BoxRec

Plans to Stage Eubank Jr-Benn II Already in Motion as Turki Alalshikh Targets September Back at Spurs

The wheels are already in motion for a late September Tottenham Hotspur rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn following their breathless 12-round war on Saturday night.

The pair served up a contest befitting the huge pre-fight hype with Eubank eventually claiming a hard-fought unanimous decision in the main event of The Ring’s Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves card.

And given the quality of the back-and-forth battle, which drew a crowd in excess of 65,000 to the sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, thoughts quickly turned towards an immediate rematch.

Eubank and Benn initially signed a two-fight deal so all terms are already agreed for a return should both men decide to go again.

And now HE Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season, has confirmed that he plans to stage the second fight back at Tottenham with a late September showdown in the works already.

Immediately after Saturday night’s fight, he told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger: “If they’re not injured and ready, we want the rematch in late September at Tottenham.

“The British fans were amazing and I thank them.”

Given the stadium plays host to Spurs games, a final decision on the date may have to wait until the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures are released in June if the rematch is to take place back at the stadium.

There is an international break on the weekend of September 7 but that may come just too early for Eubank and Benn, who will both need time to recover in the wake of the 12 exhausting rounds they shared.

But it will still be a quick turnaround compared to the rematch their famous fathers had back in 1993. Chris Eubank Sr had stopped Nigel Benn in the ninth round of their initial encounter on November 18, 1990 but it was not until the October of 1993 that they did it again, with a staggering television audience of more than 15 million tuning in to watch them share a split draw over 12 rounds at Old Trafford.

As a result of Saturday’s encounter, the Eubank family are now 2-0 up against the Benns with one drawn. Now it looks likely that 28-year-old Conor will get the fourth and final attempt to register a win for his family this September.

Apparently the contracts are already done.

We have no idea what’s in the contract. Weights, rehydration etc.

I’m assuming CEJ made sure the rematch was more on his favour had he won the first bout.

Promoters and Turki talking about it immediately after the fight too..

I like the fights being made, but seeing rematches isn’t always the way. Understandably it was close( but there was no question on the winner IMO.

Personally I don’t wanna see it again.

But money talks. Where else are they gonna make £9m ?

CHRIS EUBANK JR. PROMOTER: WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT AGAIN?

No sooner had the fortunate 65,000 fans who got to witness Chris Eubank Jr outlast Conor Benn in their middleweight grudge match filed out of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, than the head of Riyadh Season and chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, revealed that advanced plans were already in place to fill it again.

The fighters signed a two-fight agreement and, if all goes to plan, everybody will reconvene in London to do it all again in September.

“It looks like it,” Eubank Jr’s promoter, Ben Shalom, told The Ring. “The fixtures just need to line up. We’re waiting on the home and away fixtures but, listen, who wouldn't want to see that again? It was absolutely ridiculous. I’m sure Conor Benn will feel hard done to. What a fight but the deserved winner, Chris Eubank Jr.”

Shalom got as wrapped up as the paying fans in the drama of the whole occasion.

Although he wasn’t representing Eubank Jr when the fight initially fell through all the way back in October 2022, Shalom saw first hand just what the 35 year-old had to put himself through in order to come out on top last night.

“I have to say, a lot of people were picking Benn but I expected it to be an easier fight for Eubank Jr. It became an absolute war, it became a classic,” Shalom said.

“I think after six or seven rounds Chris really realised he was in a serious fight and it just became about grit and determination. That was swinging from the rooftops, literally.

“Absolutely over the moon to see Chris get his hand raised. It’s been a difficult camp, it’s been a difficult time. I think everyone’s seen the pictures, everyone's seen the stories, everyone's seen what he's had to go through. Fair play to Connor Benn because he was phenomenal as well tonight. He really was.”

Eubank Jr’s memorable victory put the cap on a productive week for Shalom and his Boxxer outfit.

Last Sunday, unbeaten Ben Whittaker stopped Liam Cameron in the second round of their light heavyweight rematch in Birmingham to provide a welcome reminder of his star potential.

The show then moved south to North London. Former WBO cruiserweight champion, Chris Billam-Smith, kicked off Saturday night’s massive event and kept his top flight career alive with a hard fought decision over America’s Brandon Glanton and then Viddal Riley skated to the British cruiserweight title with an impressively one-sided decision over the more experienced Chev Clarke.

“We’re absolutely flying,” Shalom said. “Ben Whitaker last week against Queensbury, then tonight Chris-Billam Smith [wins] and Viddal Riley was superb. People talk about how many followers he's got and this and that but he’s just literally cruised to the British title against a European level of opponent in Chev Clarke and then Chris Eubank Jr.

“Four out of four.”

was wondering how long it would take for this thread lol

so many f@cking rematches and threematches

Just do the rematch at 168 or a 164 catch weight. Problem solved.

Benn is too small for the weight? Too f*cking bad. I think Eubank would be crazy if he tried to get down to 160 again, he's clearly badly drained at the weight.

Love this

Too much money to turn down

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Apr 2025, 13:22 Love this

RIP Seb.

The rematch can’t be at 160 as Eubank should very much be calling the shots and it’s hard to see Benn getting anywhere near 168.

If this fight has really raised Eubank’s profile perhaps he should pursue a fight with Canelo, didn’t he express an interest in fighting in U.K. before he retires?

Rematches are part of the reason I have lost interest in boxing.

I don't give a shiny shite. Eubank won. That's it end of story. Sadly the broccoli-haircut crowd who go and rent a peaky-blinders style suit in order to go and watch the boxing eat this crap up.

No rematch

First fight was OK but not a classic

I thought it was a great bout but they aren't great fighters.

Coco wrote: ↑28 Apr 2025, 13:27 Too much money to turn down

Bang on.

Jr should ride off into the sunset secure in the knowledge that he’s earned something more valuable than money - the satisfaction of eternal one upmanship over Benn.

But no amount of reality tv gigs and celebrity poker tournaments will provide him with anything like as much money as a rematch will. You sense that even in his 40s he’ll feel the need to strut around in £10,000 Louis Vuitton jackets and all the accompanying luxury goods that an international playboy desires. And so he’ll sell his soul and we’ll pay to watch it.

Yeah money will make the 2nd happen, all these rumours Eubank owning money and legal stuff with frank down the road.

What made the first a good fight is benn didn't have the power to stop eubank in his tracks and eubank didn't have the power either, so would always make it an entertaining fight.

I don’t think I’ll watch the second fight.

It’s too dangerous. Eubank was a shell from the opening round because of weight.

Can’t see him being able to call the shots on the weights for the rematch, when it was all agreed beforehand.

Frostieballs wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 10:23 Can’t see him being able to call the shots on the weights for the rematch, when it was all agreed beforehand.

Unless it was something like ..

" if Eubank wins, the terms for the rematch are xxx "

" if Benn wins, the terms for the rematch are xxx "

I've gone for Benn in a rematch.

It's the best out come for another money spinner decider next spring.

I guess it all depends on the weights really but I don't think Jr will fully recover to a better version of himself.

It will be hard to get to that well again and go another 12 rounds. Also I think Benn will be better prepared and fight somewhat differently.

Your not going to get a rematch and expect them to give more, they gave all they had, so it's unlikely to be another thriller.

For me the second fight would just be another Nigel Benn v Steve Collins 2.

I reckon they should have found Eubank Jr and Benn a couple of knockover jobs each first, to build it back up (although time is ticking for Eubank Jr to be fair).

Even your average bonehead casual can work out that these two can’t really hurt each other, for all the effort they will put in to it.

The money makes it a no brainer though.

Rematch for a nothing fight…..
What’s wrong with modern boxing in a nutshell

Frostieballs wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 10:23 I don’t think I’ll watch the second fight.

It’s too dangerous. Eubank was a shell from the opening round because of weight.

Can’t see him being able to call the shots on the weights for the rematch, when it was all agreed beforehand.

He could always just pay a larger fine and come in at 162 or 162.5

Benn of course COULD theoretically pull out of the fight if he did that, but I get the feeling he'd be $trongly encouraged not too by the promoters.

Also why is everyone acting as if it's just a monumental feat for Eubank to make 160 when his last like 5 fights prior to this were at 160? If he could make it for those fights, why is it supposedly killing him now?

goose 5 wrote: ↑28 Apr 2025, 19:12 I thought it was a great bout but they aren't great fighters.

Which is really the reason they should milk this rivalry for all it's worth.

Not unlike a Gatti-Ward. We all love Gatti and Ward, but we all know those 2 weren't gonna be beating the Kostya Tszyu's, Floyd Mayweather's, Zab Judah's of the world in their time.

Same kinda goes for Eubank and Benn. They're good fighters. They make good fights against each other. It sells because of the family rivalry. They've already done their part, and given us a good 1st fight so they've earned the right through action to get the money a 2nd time.

Eubank can get another win over Benn. Get his ass kicked by Canelo, and live out the rest of his days 20 million or so richer for having done so.

Well worth it I'd say. I don't think I'd have more than that particular 2 fight plan if I were in Eubank's shoes though. If the plan goes awry and Benn wins the rematch there's an obvious 3rd fight they could have at some point....It's Boxing. We'll see which way the circus plays out.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 14:35

Frostieballs wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 10:23 I don’t think I’ll watch the second fight.

It’s too dangerous. Eubank was a shell from the opening round because of weight.

Can’t see him being able to call the shots on the weights for the rematch, when it was all agreed beforehand.

Also why is everyone acting as if it's just a monumental feat for Eubank to make 160 when his last like 5 fights prior to this were at 160? If he could make it for those fights, why is it supposedly killing him now?

Because eventually it could become tough can’t it?

I mean he did try and make the limit. Then it was the case of rehydration.

When was his last fight?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 14:46

gilgamesh wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 14:35

Frostieballs wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 10:23 I don’t think I’ll watch the second fight.

It’s too dangerous. Eubank was a shell from the opening round because of weight.

Can’t see him being able to call the shots on the weights for the rematch, when it was all agreed beforehand.

Also why is everyone acting as if it's just a monumental feat for Eubank to make 160 when his last like 5 fights prior to this were at 160? If he could make it for those fights, why is it supposedly killing him now?

Because eventually it could become tough can’t it?

I mean he did try and make the limit. Then it was the case of rehydration.

When was his last fight?

October, 2024, and he weighed in at 159 and a half, and he won.

All of his fights from 2022 to now he's been 160. He fought at 168 for a handful of fights, but mostly has campaigned as a Middleweight throughout his career.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 14:52

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 14:46

gilgamesh wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025, 14:35
Also why is everyone acting as if it's just a monumental feat for Eubank to make 160 when his last like 5 fights prior to this were at 160? If he could make it for those fights, why is it supposedly killing him now?

Because eventually it could become tough can’t it?

I mean he did try and make the limit. Then it was the case of rehydration.

When was his last fight?

October, 2024, and he weighed in at 159 and a half, and he won.

All of his fights from 2022 to now he's been 160. He fought at 168 for a handful of fights, but mostly has campaigned as a Middleweight throughout his career.

Yeah. Eubank has played the public with this. Making it seem like he’s had to come down in weight and people have jumped all over it.

Also the release of the sweatsuit stuff to make weight. He may get a warning/fine re: the sauna stuff but many championship level fighters do similar to what he did to make weight (and they actually make weight).