Chris Eubank Jr Looked Unwell Against Conor Benn — Should the Rematch Have Happened?

After their first encounter, the story between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn should have been left there. Both men delivered an exceptional performance in their initial meeting, producing one of the most dramatic fights in recent British boxing history. But whereas Eubank Jr failed to make weight the first time, it appears this time he pushed himself far beyond what was reasonable to prove he could do it.

His performance told the real story. Gone was the sharp, confident, rhythm-based fighter who came alive in their previous outing. Instead, Eubank Jr looked flat-footed, sluggish, and most importantly, unwell. He fought like a man whose body had nothing left to give, and at times appeared as though he didn’t even want to be in the ring.

To Benn’s credit, none of this takes away from his performance. He boxed brilliantly, executed his game plan with maturity, and showcased the improvements he’s made since their rivalry first ignited. Benn did everything he was supposed to do and did it exceptionally well.

The Officials Shouldn’t Have Allowed the Fight to Happen

We hear it time and time again: fighter safety is paramount. Promoters, coaches, and commissions all stress the importance of avoiding mismatch fights or reckless crossover bouts because one day someone could get seriously hurt. And it wasn’t too long ago that Nigel Benn’s fight left Gerald McClellan paralysed, and Chris Eubank Sr.’s bout resulted in similar tragedy for Michael Watson, raising serious concerns about fighter safety.

Yet last night’s fight fell directly into that danger zone. The catchweight was already pushing the limits for a fighter like Eubank Jr, who is naturally too big to make it safely. The warning signs were there throughout fight week: the dramatic weight cut, the drained appearance, and ultimately his failure to hit the agreed limit in his first fight, missing it by just 0.05g, despite extreme effort.

SHOP: Kickboxing Gear

Adding to the concern was the rehydration clause, restricting him to only 10lbs of weight regained. That’s not just a competitive disadvantage; it can be a medical risk. Preventing a fighter’s body from replenishing what it needs makes them more vulnerable to fatigue, dehydration, and damage. Both fighters may have wanted the rematch. But the officials and promoters must be the gatekeepers of safety—especially when millions are on the line. Allowing this fight to proceed under such conditions was, at best, careless and, at worst, dangerous.

Will We See Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn III?

Eubank Jr has admitted he’s been dealing with personal issues over the last two months, and based on last night’s performance, it’s clear something wasn’t right. ” I have been through,” said the fighter. Benn, on the other hand, looked like a man who had put the rivalry to bed and proven his point to the public, to his critics, and to the Benn family legacy.

But boxing is a business as much as it is a sport. And when both fighters reportedly earned close to £10 million each, the temptation for a trilogy fight will be strong. Will pride or money win out? Hard to say. But based on what we witnessed, the third fight shouldn’t happen, at least not under the same dangerous conditions. It will be interesting to see whether the promoters take this into account if the third fight does happen.