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Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2: “It was demanding to face my demons” – Benn

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Conor Benn said he was “concerned and furious” in the lead-up to his first fight with Chris Eubank Jr. and that it was hard for him to face his “demons”, but he stated that he was better mentally prepared for the rematch.

Both players will face each other again on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The first meeting in April took place after the fight originally scheduled for 2022 was canceled when Benn (23-1, 14 KO) failed two anti-doping tests.

After two years of legal battles, he was cleared to fight in the UK in 2024.

However, the 29-year-old openly spoke about the loss this trial has caused to him and his family. In a 2023 interview with Piers Morgan, he admitted that he had suicidal thoughts at one point during the ordeal, maintained his innocence throughout and denied any wrongdoing.

When the rescheduled fight was finally announced, the atmosphere between the two was personal and toxic, and Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KO) hit his rival in the face with an egg during a press conference.

Benn said he will have to face his “demons” in the April fight, but after undergoing therapy he feels rested and has a better attitude ahead of the rematch.

“I feel like I’m still recovering. I feel like I’m still worried, anxious, anxious, furious and bitter. Just in life.” Benn said.

“My priority was to come back and fight, but just because I felt I could come back and fight doesn’t mean I should do it.

“What do they say? ‘A forceful mind can lift a frail body, but a forceful body can’t lift a frail mind.’ And that’s pretty much how I felt. I was physically forceful, but it was demanding.”

“It was demanding for me to face my demons too.

“I’ll be back here, I’ll be fighting in the UK for the first time in three years, first fight at 160 pounds [pounds]my second 12-rounder.”

With his focus on the rematch, Benn said he is more than ready to leave the Eubank rivalry behind and pursue world welterweight titles before eventually moving up to junior middleweight.

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Liam Smith Accused of Assault: Ex-World Champion Boxer Allegedly Punches Man on the Ground

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"Liam Smith Accused of Assault: Ex-World Champion Boxer Allegedly Punches Man on the Ground"

He added that the cameras also recorded Smith allegedly “pushing past people to resume the incident, punching someone on the floor”.

Judge Gilbart adjourned the hearing until 28 November. Smith was told to be ready to enter his pleas on that date.

The fighter, nicknamed ‘Beefy’, was granted bail with conditions not to contact Nke or to enter Manchester, unless to attend court, or for appointments with his solicitor.

Judge Gilbart fixed a provisional trial date for the week commencing 15 March 2028.

Smith, now of Formby in Sefton, was due to make a comeback in a fight on 4 September in Finland, but pulled out due to a calf injury, according to reports.

Smith, one of four brothers who all boxed professionally and all won titles at British level, has fought some of the biggest names in the sport including a defeat to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

More recently he fought British rival Chris Eubank Jr twice, defeating him in the first fight in January 2023, before suffering a defeat in the rematch eight months later.

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Unbeaten World Champion Challenges Oleksandr Usyk for Cruiserweight Title Rematch

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"Unbeaten World Champion Challenges Oleksandr Usyk for Cruiserweight Title Rematch"

Oleksandr Usyk could be involved in one of the “biggest fights in cruiserweight history”, just so long as he is willing to drop back down to 200lbs.

The 39-year-old has not fought at the weight since 2018, when he became the undisputed king by dethroning Murat Gassiev with a wide points victory.

Usyk also defined his cruiserweight reign with a majority decision triumph over Mairis Briedis, before moving up in weight and becoming a two-division world champion.

He did so by dethroning Anthony Joshua in 2021, with the Ukrainian then winning their rematch and eventually facing Tyson Fury for all four major heavyweight belts.

Then, this past June, Usyk made the decision to vacate his titles after having become a two-division undisputed champion and secured a harder-than-expected 11th-round stoppage of former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

Still, though, the decorated southpaw intends to fight for a short while longer and, according to Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, has mentioned a Fury trilogy and David Benavidez clash as possible options.

Speaking to Last Stand Podcastunified cruiserweight champion Benavidez said he would gladly face Usyk at his current fighting weight.

“The point I wanted to make when we’re talking about Usyk is: I don’t know if that would be at heavyweight or cruiserweight. Didn’t Usyk relinquish all his belts?

“In my opinion, it would be a bigger fight at cruiserweight because, once I capture this [WBC] title, that would be three belts [on the line]. It would probably be one of the biggest fights in cruiserweight history.”

While a potential Usyk showdown could be explored, Benavidez has already committed to facing WBC champion Michal Cieslak in December and verbally agreed to fight Jai Opetaia next year.

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Unbeaten World Champion Challenges Oleksandr Usyk for Cruiserweight Belt Redemption

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"Unbeaten World Champion Challenges Oleksandr Usyk for Cruiserweight Belt Redemption"

Oleksandr Usyk could be involved in one of the “biggest fights in cruiserweight history”, just so long as he is willing to drop back down to 200lbs.

The 39-year-old has not fought at the weight since 2018, when he became the undisputed king by dethroning Murat Gassiev with a wide points victory.

Usyk also defined his cruiserweight reign with a majority decision triumph over Mairis Briedis, before moving up in weight and becoming a two-division world champion.

He did so by dethroning Anthony Joshua in 2021, with the Ukrainian then winning their rematch and eventually facing Tyson Fury for all four major heavyweight belts.

Then, this past June, Usyk made the decision to vacate his titles after having become a two-division undisputed champion and secured a harder-than-expected 11th-round stoppage of former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.

Still, though, the decorated southpaw intends to fight for a short while longer and, according to Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, has mentioned a Fury trilogy and David Benavidez clash as possible options.

Speaking to Last Stand Podcastunified cruiserweight champion Benavidez said he would gladly face Usyk at his current fighting weight.

“The point I wanted to make when we’re talking about Usyk is: I don’t know if that would be at heavyweight or cruiserweight. Didn’t Usyk relinquish all his belts?

“In my opinion, it would be a bigger fight at cruiserweight because, once I capture this [WBC] title, that would be three belts [on the line]. It would probably be one of the biggest fights in cruiserweight history.”

While a potential Usyk showdown could be explored, Benavidez has already committed to facing WBC champion Michal Cieslak in December and verbally agreed to fight Jai Opetaia next year.

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