It’s just a few hours before the ring walks start for Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Until now, all the events that have led up to this two-and-a-half-year-in-the-making bout have only intensified the family rivalry between the boxers. First, it was Eubank Jr’s egg slap on Benn’s face, which he attributed to Benn testing positive for PEDs before their 2022 canceled bout. Then, there was Eubank Jr. missing the weight by just 0.05 lbs yesterday, losing $500k from his purse, which will be added to his arch-rival’s. While Benn made sure Eubank Jr. paid for the egg-slap, the fight is still happening at the IBO middleweight champion’s division, where Eubank Jr. has a home-court advantage. Keeping this in mind, ‘The Destroyer’s team has already taken steps to make sure Eubank Jr. doesn’t have any more advantage than that.
Apart from the 10 lbs rehydration clause in place, there will also be something else that Conor Benn’s team demanded in the contract negotiations—a smaller ring. A smaller ring is particularly advantageous to a puncher as it gives the opponent less space to run around. Now, how that may work out for Eubank Jr. is a tricky question. But the fact that it has been negotiated in must spell trouble for Chris Eubank Jr.
Conor Benn is leveling the playing field against Chris Eubank Jr.
The 28-year-old, when speaking to Sky Sports, revealed the only demand he’d put forward in the contract negotiations. “The only thing I asked for in my contract was an 18-foot ring,” Conor Benn stated. “Coming in there to steamroll him? Of course I am. You think I’m coming in there to muck about? That’s just how I am,” the 23-0 boxer continued. This is especially important when you consider the way it normally happens. In most boxing matches, the average ring size, measured inside the ropes, is typically 20 feet by 20 feet (approximately 6.1 meters by 6.1 meters), providing a total fighting area of 400 square feet.
For smaller weight classes, some sanctioning bodies may ask for a 16×16 feet ring or an 18×18 feet ring. Concurrently, for weight classes like heavyweight, some sanctioning bodies may insist on a 24×24 feet ring, depending on the venue. Considering that Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn are fighting at middleweight (not really a smaller weight class), it will end up playing to Conor Benn’s advantage with an 18×18 feet ring, since Eubank Jr. is more of a boxer than a puncher. As a result, Benn urged BBBoC to approve the 18×18 feet ring, and guess what? They obliged.
Clearly, Benn has made sure that he has the upper edge, at least when it comes to tactical play. “If you think you’re faster than me, prove it. You think you’re stronger than me? Prove it. You think you’re smarter than me? Prove it,” Benn said, emphasizing the fact that if the middleweight champ wants to get him, he can do so in the ring, by only making the conditions even for both fighters. “Come and meet me in the middle,” he added confidently. Having said that, his point was detailed and supported by his promoter Eddie Hearn, too.
Eddie Hearn backs Benn’s strategy with a calculated gamble
Referencing the physical mismatch, and backing his fighter’s statements, Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports later, “It might suit Eubank. He may decide to stand and have a shootout,” he said, pointing out the fact that though their team requested a smaller ring, Eubank Jr. could actually benefit from it if he decides to return punches at close quarters.
Then again, outlining the most probable outcome, Hearn went on with his predictions: “Conor can box, by the way. He’s got great legs, and his movement’s very good…Stuck against the ropes, boom boom, it’s the speed of it. There are very few fighters that are as sharp as Conor Benn early in a fight like that. Conor tries to end the fight in the first round.”
Then, calling out Eubank’s performance in the last fight, Hearn tried to make more sense of Benn’s speed in the ring. “Eubank is not one of those fighters that starts fast out of the gate. Look at the Liam Smith fight, it’s a cracking example.”
For now, it looks like there are a lot of cards in Benn’s favor. Most boxing insiders, including Johnny Nelson, agree that Conor Benn would have an edge when it comes to limiting Eubank Jr’s movement in the ring. But then, with his experience and power at middleweight, Eubank Jr. could also thrive in such a close-quarter battle. Now, who would overpower whom, is something that fans will get to witness just hours from now. What are your predictions?
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