LONDON -- Three years after their fight was canceled on short notice and 32 years since their fathers' rematch, Chris Eubank Jr. won by unanimous decision over Conor Benn in a nontitle middleweight bout Saturday.
Eubank (35-3, 25 KOs) earned scores of 116-112 on all three scorecards to beat Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) and settle the grudge match between the two English boxers, the biggest non-heavyweight boxing event in the United Kingdom since Carl Froch versus George Groves in May 2014.
Eubank had Benn in trouble in the final round, but there were no knockdowns in a fight that lived up to expectations in front of 62,000 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Eubank did not appear affected by trying to make the 160-pound weight limit, which he failed to do by 0.05 pounds Friday and resulted in a $500,000 (£375,000) penalty. In fact, he performed well in the final two rounds.
"I knew I was capable of that," said Eubank, who was taken to a hospital after the fight as a precaution. "The fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago brings out a spirit in you, and we showed that tonight.
"I pushed through. There is a lot of things that have gone on in my life, and I am happy to have this man [his dad] back with me. We upheld the family name -- onwards and upwards.
"I didn't know Conor had what he had in him."
No major title was on the line, but it was a hugely satisfying win for Eubank, whose father stopped Conor's dad, Nigel, in 1990 before their points draw in 1993 for world middleweight and super middleweight titles, respectively. Despite reportedly being estranged from Chris Jr., Chris Sr. walked his son to the ring and sat ringside with Nigel.
"I wasn't sure he would be here. It gave me a lift. It was special. He needed to be here, all of this is because what he did," Chris Jr. said.
The victory keeps Eubank in contention for a shot at Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the WBC, WBA and WBO world super middleweight champion, in 2026.
Eubank has not held a full version of the four major world titles, but this was an impressive display where he showed character during some tough rounds and triumphed. For Benn, a return to welterweight or junior middleweight is likely after suffering the first defeat of his professional career in his biggest fight yet.
Benn is young enough to revive his career, but this defeat, after an acrimonious three-year build-up that included Eubank smashing an egg on his face at a news conference, will hurt. Afterward, he suggested he might continue at middleweight.
"Maybe inactivity was a factor, I had 14 months out of the ring. It was a close fight, I'll have to watch it back. I enjoyed it," Benn said. "Maybe I stayed on the ropes too long. We knew Chris is a good fighter and fighting talk is fighting talk. I believe I can fight at 160."
Because the fight is expected to return high pay-per-view revenue from the United Kingdom audience, and they reportedly shared an £18 million purse, there is also a good chance we get to see a fourth episode of the Eubank-Benn family rivalry.
Benn, 28, had not fought in the United Kingdom for three years because of a ban for a positive drug test, which caused a scheduled fight versus Eubank to be canceled two days before the bout in October 2022.
But it was not a warm welcome home from the fans, who booed his entrance to the ring, while Eubank was cheered as he was flanked by his dad. Benn, who grew up in Spain and Australia before moving to Essex in England to begin his professional career aged 19, missed wildly with some of his punches in the opening round, but he probably connected with enough to win Round 1.
Benn started more aggressively and his quick hands seemed to surprise Eubank. Benn landed some right hooks and even a lead left hook in Round 2. Benn's movement was also a problem for Eubank early, but in Round 4, he caught up to Benn and landed a combination, and then a brilliant right uppercut that snapped back Benn's head.
Eubank, 35, from Brighton, began finding Benn more regularly in Round 5, doubling up his jab and whipping right hooks. Both landed good shots in Round 6 of a gripping fight, but Eubank's jab was superior. Benn's right hooks had plenty of venom all night, but Eubank's punches flowed better and the Brighton-based boxer had a good Round 7.
In Round 8, both stood toe-to-toe and exchanged punches. It was hard to separate them as both landed crushing shots.
Benn was full of vigour at the start of Round 9, but Eubank responded later in the round with some mighty right hands. Eubank was cut near his right eye in the ninth and looked fatigued as Benn swarmed him. Benn briefly staggered Eubank with a short left in Round 10 and later in the round, connected with a right hand.
Eubank recovered after a poor Round 10 to outwork Benn in a gruelling 11th before some furious exchanges in the final round. Eubank got the better of it in Round 12, and nearly knocked Benn off his feet with a left hook. Somehow, Benn remained on his feet after being bombarded with hooks in the final minute.
There were no knockdowns, but it was great entertainment.