British middleweights Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3, 25 KOs) and Conor Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) met yesterday in Manchester for the first of two press conferences as they square off in the Ring Magazine’s first-ever boxing card titled “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves,”on Saturday April 26 at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Chris Eubank Jr.
Q: How are you feeling two and a half years after this fight was supposed to happen?
“The bad guy is back again. He still never cheats. He still never lies. He still never cuts any corners, and yet he is still the bad guy. Isn’t it incredible? The unique and peculiar situation we find ourselves in here today is that for the first time in boxing history, in a mega fight, there are two bad guys. Fun fact: I’ve been booed into every British fight I've had since 2014. Let that sink in for a second. That’s 11 years of being the bad guy. I’m a veteran at this stage, a supervillain if you will. I remember the first time I got booed into an arena was against a fighter called Billy Joe Saunders, another scumbag in the boxing industry. It's a cold, dark moment in your life when you realize you're in an environment where thousands and thousands of people want to see you get hurt and lose. Even recently, walking into Wembley Stadium, AJ vs. Dubois, I walk in, the cameras are on me, my face goes up on the screen. 80,000 people boo me into that arena, and that is after a career-best performance against Liam Smith, where I beat him in a rematch. I say all that to say that on April 26, I’m probably going to be walking into the same environment. But it's okay, because I’m not going to be alone. Like I said, there’s two bad guys in this fight. There’s one in me who has accepted his fate. I gave up on my dreams of being a hero a long time ago. The other still wants and believes and dreams and prays of being the good guy, of being the golden boy. That’s what I believe.
Speaking directly to Conor Benn…
“You had the whole public behind you. Everyone wanted you to win. Everyone wanted you to be the next big thing in boxing. I never had that. Do you know what I would have given to be in that situation? You had it, and you pissed it all away. Literally pissed it all away. Now you’re here. We’re at this press conference. We’re going to fight, and you're going to try to use me to get back in the public's good graces. It’s just not going to happen for you, kid. ’m sorry to break it to you.”
Q: Two years ago you said you expected this fight to be easy work. Do you still feel the same?
“I go online, and I see that there’s a split. I either see “Conor Benn is going to knock Eubank out early because he’s too young, he’s too strong, he’s too ferocious, he’s too hungry, too angry,” or “Eubank wins on points because he’s too big.”And that’s not just the public, actually; this is respected members of the boxing community, trainers, and fighters. Apparently the only way I can win this fight is just because of my size. Where’s the [expletive] respect? I’ve had 34 fights, 25 KOs, and I can only beat this guy because I’m a bit bigger than him? I’m going to beat him because I’m a better fighter than him in every single department. Will it be a walk in the park? I don’t know but he cannot beat me, that’s for sure.”
On the rehydration clause for this fight…
“I like a challenge. When Eddie and Conor started demanding there was a rehydration clause for this fight, guess what I said? Show me the money. Show me the money. If you're going to have that advantage over me, then you’ve got to pay top dollar. I’m not going to give you that advantage for free.”
Now this rehydration situation, I’ve never done it before. Usually I put on about 14 lbs after a weigh-in. So I have two ways of approaching this now. I can either restrict what I eat and drink so I make the weight the next day. Or I eat and drink as much as I want, rehydrate as much as I want, as I usually do, and then on the fight day I’ll hop in the steam room or sauna, and then I’ll hit that number that they want me to hit. I don’t know which I’m going to do yet. The fact of the matter is, it’s irrelevant. Whether there’s a weight clause or restrictions, it doesn't change the outcome of the fight. One thing that you all need to know is that Eddie’s tried to push hard the last few weeks, and the IBF enforced a 10 lb restriction anyway, so that’s why this is safe. The truth is, that’s a lie; it's a 12 lb weight limit. So just another example of Eddie lying through his teeth to the public to try and make himself look good.
Q: Will the rehydration clause make a difference?
“I’m not going to lose the fight, if that’s what you mean. Will I be affected? Of course I will. I’m being restricted from how much I can eat and drink. So there will be a slight disadvantage. But I’m being paid, so I will accept that challenge. It’s very simple.
Conor Benn
Responding to Eubank Jr.’s opening comments
“Chris can say what he wants. The bottom line is, his dad doesn't even like him. You could not pay that man enough money to sit in this man’s corner. That’s an accomplishment, Chris. Well done, the most unlikeable geezer on the planet, and even your dad doesn't like you.”
On feelings and emotions coming into the fight on April 26…
“I think all the talking's been done. Obviously, what I’ve been through is very public. But I’m excited to get in there on April 26 and end this man’s career.
Q: Why are you so confident that you can stop Eubank Jr. within six rounds?
“I just can’t take him seriously, that’s all. Just look at his career. Every time he’s stepped up, he’s failed. Every time. Yeah, you've faced better opposition; well done you, but this is the end of your career. This is the end. This is it for you. I’m 28. You chose to face a welterweight over Sheeraz, over Janibek, over Adames, over anybody with a world title. You choose a welterweight. Your career is done. You’ve achieved your career. I’m a welterweight. I fought a light middleweight to prepare for you. I’m a welterweight, and you're going to get rendered unconscious by a welterweight. Like Liam Smith, I bet that brings back horrors. Exactly like that, exactly the way he jumped up to 160 lbs. He had you dancing all funny. That’s exactly what’s going to happen on April 26, except by a welterweight whose name happens to be Benn. And you can retire off to the sunset with your pension fund, but this is you done.
Q: Was there any hesitation in moving up to 160 lbs after 15 months away from the ring?
“No concern really, he's another man in my way that I’ve got to beat. I don’t really look at him and go “whoa, you're a big geezer.” It’s not really a concern to me. Ultimately, it's just an opponent in my way that I've got to beat. Once I knock him out, I’ll move back down to 147 and win the world title.”
Q: Your thoughts on this big matchup?
“Genuinely excited. I’m glad this fight could happen for the fans. I’m looking forward to the challenge of stepping up two weight divisions. I’m excited to jump up to this plate and gie the fans the fight they want. That’s mainly it, just happy to get this fight done and over the line.
Eddie Hearn, Chairman, Matchroom
Reflecting on the events of the Press conference
“Me and Eubank have got a love-hate relationship. We hate each other, and I don’t know where the love is. I actually think he’s good for the game. But it is what it is. He’s a showman. It’s premeditated. I think he waffles. The waffles were unbelievable. He’s moaning about everything about the fight, but that doesn’t matter; it’s just nonstop moaning about it. This fight was massive. It’s gone to another level. This fight is going to sell out quicker than you’d ever imagine. If you get a chance tonight, go on YouTube and look up Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley from Las Vegas. That is exactly what will happen in this fight. I’m not saying it will be over in one round, but watch the way Nigel Benn boxed in that fight. It will be exactly the same as Conor Benn. And by the way, Eubank won’t take a step back. He will stand, and he will trade with him just like Iran Barkley did. I’m telling you now, forget a game plan, forget a strategy. He’s coming with speed and tenacity to iron out Eubank inside three rounds.
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