Boxing

CHRIS EUBANK Jr spending over 24hrs in a Royal London Hospital bed after suffering chronic dehydration is all the evidence boxing fans need to see why a Conor Benn rematch should be dead and buried.The 35-year-old could not make the 11st 6lb middleweight limit on Friday morning — not even after another desperate last training session moments later.Eubank Jr goes on the attack in Saturday’s slugfest with Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur StadiumCredit: GettyChris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn trade blows in 1990 fight before the former sealed a ninth-round win at the NEC in BirminghamCredit: AlamyAfter the fight, his insides were so bone dry he could barely sweat, when any other athlete on the planet — after 36 minutes of breathless action — would be saturated.So, what chance that he will be able to boil down to the 160lb limit SAFELY for the scheduled rematch in September, when he will be 36 and further battling with his fading metabolism?Just because casual boxing fans think they saw a thrilling slugfest between an evenly matched pair of nepo-baby millionaires.Just because the Tottenham Stadium was filled by the Instagram generation that wants to film itself attending flashy events — it does not mean a son, a brother and an uncle needs to starve the crucial protective membrane around his brain of water yet again.READ MORE ON CHRIS EUBANK JRNow that the pair have banked £8million each, helped Sky Sports flog hundreds of thousands of pay-per-views, treated their legendary fathers to one last night in the lime-lit ring and itched that itch of a third fight between the families — both men deserve to move on and achieve more.Benn is 28, his early career was expertly guided and he grabbed the scalps of a few decent Americans but he has never even challenged for an English or British title.He is too rich and successful to go back now and fight for domestic titles but he is also too small and not talented enough to become a world champion in his new 11st 6lb division.But he could definitely rebuild back at the 10st 7lb welter limit or even the 11st super-welter maximum, where some tough but beatable names hold the fragmented belts and compete for the top slots.Most read in BoxingEubank Jr’s stock will probably never be higher — but he has repeatedly shown he is unwilling to take world-title shots when the risk outweighs the rewards.Ex-champ Gennady Golovkin was wisely avoided like the plague and his compatriot, reigning champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, has been dodged like a vegan dinner party invite.Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn in classy nods to their iconic dads during ringwalks for huge grudge fightThe super-middle division of 12st is the safest place for him to go because there is fellow Londoner Hamzah Sheeraz lurking there and fellow Sky Sports fighter Callum Simpson in the stable.Since the tragic 2021 death of his brother Sebastian — who left baby son Raheem behind — Eubank Jr has been candid about his change in priorities.World title belts, as golden as they may glisten and as deep in boxing stone they might etch names, cannot help to feed, raise and educate a three-year-old boy in Dubai.The statement from his BOXXER promoters could not hide the fact that his kidneys, brain and heart needed to be carefully watched for signs of damage.They wrote: “As part of his standard post-fight protocol, Chris went to hospital for precautionary checks to monitor his vitals and ensure everything is in order.“They take these measures very seriously, given everything they have experienced.“This process is something they now prioritise after every fight.”The first Benn vs Eubank Sr fight, in 1990, ended in an emphatic ninth-round win for the lisping showman.Benn and his rival struggle to stay on their feet through exhaustionCredit: GettySweat-free Eubank with iconic dad after resultCredit: ReutersAnd the 1993 rematch ended in a controversial draw that most viewers accept should have been awarded to the former British fusilier, Benn.Now the third instalment has made it 2-0 to the Brighton family, there is just no need to return to that well and keep pulling at the heartstrings.The nostalgia appeal is as exhausted as the two boxers were from the middle rounds.And the novelty effect will be as spent as the £16m Saudi Arabia sunk into their purses.Any notion of feuding families, malice, spite and bragging rights went down the khazi the second they all hugged and praised each other like a group of Love Island boys waiting to meet the chicks of Casa Amor.The fight was grubby and dangerous, we are lucky a brief hospital recovery is the worst of the fallout.There is a reason the British Boxing Board of Control avoided calls and messages from reporters on Friday and Saturday morning about weight-cut rules being broken and liberties taken.Read More on The SunBritish boxing got away with one, some brave people got rich some greedy ones got even richer.But the game is too hard — and we are not fortunate enough — to keep pushing our luck with the health and safety of men too brave for their own safety.ROUND BY ROUNDROUND 1The referee forces them to touch gloves before the bout starts after initially ignoring his request.Benn flies out looking for the right, bobbing, weaving, jumping in with another right. Eubank triples up the jab looking to assert his size. Round feels like it went on forever.ROUND 2Benn darts forward, ducking under a Eubank shot and then both trade lefts.There is a coming together — before both get a warning from the ref.Jab from Eubank snaps Benn’s head back but he fires straight back.Right hook lands for Benn, then a jab lands but Eubank responds and scores with a left hook.ROUND 3The Londoner just misses with a counter right as Eubank looks a little lethargic.Right shot lands on the button for Benn and a follow-up left stuns Eubank in what is the first sign of danger.Eubank goads Benn and tries to rough him up and snaps his head back with a jab.Big right for Benn as Eubank looks to go to the body.ROUND 4Three-punch combo out the gate for Eubank to head and body pushes Benn back.Huge uppercut off the jab lands for Eubank as the crowd chant his name.Benn slips and lands a left, then follows up soon after with a counter right.ROUND 5Benn hits the floor — but it is ruled a slip and Eubank looks intent to just stop the attacks.But he drives Benn back with a couple of one-twos and then sends him flying across the ring with a shrug — using his size advantage.Eubank misses with a right and Benn says ‘what was that?’ROUND 6The smaller man drives Eubank on to the ropes and sticks his gloves in his opponent’s MOUTH.Sharp counter right lands for Benn, then Eubank replies but both end up losing each other.Counter right uppercut lands for Eubank.Benn connects with a right, Eubank responds with a jab and then evades three shots coming his way — the fight appears to be turning here.ROUND 7Ugly scenes as they try to grab each other and punch, which ends with a warning for Eubank — potentially his last before a point comes off.He whips in an uppercut, which Benn takes well as crowd gasps.Uppercut left shakes Benn but he fires back.Benn walks into some shots, not defending as well as earlier, while Eubank lets the verbals jabs fly too. A big one-two shakes Benn.ROUND 8Benn comes out strong, swinging from the hip after sensing Eubank’s recent success.It becomes a slugfest — but nothing lands.Again both trade hooks, bobbing, weaving and throwing shots at each other.Eubank chases Benn across the ring desperately looking for a big shot.ROUND 9A wild misses with a left hook from Benn and they tangle in the centre of the ring before the Londoner connects with a decent right hand.A looping hook misses Eubank but he is CUT from a head clash. Both land shots as the Brighton man takes the fight to close quarters.ROUND 10Both quite literally run into each other and let their hands go, turning it into a brawl.Eubank forces Benn onto the ropes, goes back into the centre and it is a fight in a phonebox.Both swing from the hip and land on the button. Benn connects on the chin and Eubank’s legs dip but he just evades a follow-up shot.Eubank walks right into a Benn right hand.ROUND 11Eubank lands a jab and right hook to the body, then follows up with a counter uppercut.The Brighton boxer unleashes a barrage of shots, bullying the smaller man, as Benn backs up to the ropes.ROUND 12They touch gloves — the first glimpse of respect between them.There is a tussle on the ropes with Eubank getting the better of it, using his size, as a big right hand rockets off Benn’s head.Benn is shaken back with a short shot but responds with a huge right. Eubank fires a left and both trade punches until the final bell goes. More