Soap Opera Plot Twists & Fatherly Love - What Next For Eubank And Benn?

When nan camera panned to a grinning Chris Eubank Sr stepping retired of a achromatic car, you half expected the Eastenders duff-duffs to swiftly follow.

His presence for his son's bout pinch Conor Benn connected Saturday nighttime was a segment worthy of immoderate soap opera crippled twist.

In a athletics of good margins, nan reconciliation whitethorn conscionable person fixed his son, Chris Eubank Jr - who said earlier nan conflict he had not spoken to his begetter for years - nan separator complete Conor Benn successful a rivalry steeped successful history and drama.

After 12 gruelling back-and-forth rounds astatine Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, nan usually composed Eubank fell to his knees erstwhile his name was publication retired arsenic nan winner.

Benn welled up, tears masked by a stone-faced look arsenic he battled nan disappointment.

Anyone who has moreover loosely followed boxing these past 2 years will beryllium acutely alert really severely some men wanted nan win.

It each began pinch a conflict of personalities and a bloodline feud inherited from their fathers' iconic duel successful nan 1990s.

The rivalry was blasted to heights higher than Katy Perry's caller little abstraction jaunt aft Benn grounded a narcotics test, which led to nan cancelation of their scheduled 2022 bout.

And it ended pinch some men, alternatively fittingly, successful nan arms of their legendary fathers.

As an affectional Benn took his conclusion pinch humility, he besides struck astatine what has been astatine nan bosom of a conflict that captivated a nation.

"A narration pinch your begetter is special, I'd prime a narration pinch my dada complete boxing immoderate day," Benn said.

"If this conflict brought Chris and his dada together past that's worthy its weight successful gold."

In nan moment, it's each excessively easy to rave astir nan spectacle and exceeded expectations.

But is simply a rematch nan champion move for nan fighters and British boxing?

Or aft a two-year doping scandal, unnecessary ovum slap and a criticised weight agreement, should we move connected from this family feud?

Eubank Sr hit Nigel Benn successful 1990 earlier a contentious tie 3 years later. But their sons were truthful acold distant successful weight and acquisition that, connected paper, they ne'er should person shared a ring.

The smaller Benn had operated astir of his profession astatine welterweight, whereas erstwhile world-title challenger Eubank was a seasoned pro up astatine middleweight and super-middleweight.

Such was nan request for nan match-up, though, a cautiously constructed situation was created to make nan conflict make sense. This is not uncommon successful nan world of boxing, spot Jake Paul v Mike Tyson for further reference.

A rehydration clause constricted Eubank from adding much than 10lb connected nan greeting of conflict night.

Benn was approved to usage firmer horsehair gloves alternatively of foam padding and an 18ft ringing was utilized alternatively of nan modular 20ft - some of which suited his explosive style.

Eubank was a combatant who, astatine nan backend of his career, struggled to make nan 11st 6lb weight limit.

The clip of him successful a sweatsuit - successful discomfort and symptom - trying to shed immoderate fat was near connected his assemblage was a sorry show for nan sport.

But promoter Hearn feels excessively overmuch was made of Eubank's weight cut.

"He has made it nan past 5 times but he conscionable messed up, that's it," Hearn said astatine nan post-fight news conference.

"Apart from his dad, no-one ever said 'do you deliberation it's vulnerable for Benn to beryllium moving up 2 divisions and fighting personification nan size of Eubank?'"

But sloppy of whether you consciousness Benn aliases Eubank was astatine nan bigger disadvantage, if truthful galore conditions needed to beryllium met to create a level playing field, should they person been fighting each different successful nan first place?

Benn, who denies intentional doping and was cleared to conflict by an anti-doping panel, whitethorn ne'er triumph complete nan critics; those who consciousness location are still unanswered questions astir nan grounded tests.

Yet immoderate boxing fans - not needfully nan purists - tin beryllium forgiving, particularly erstwhile you put it each connected nan line. Judging by nan jeers turned into cheers, Benn near northbound London having converted a fewer haters into fans.

He came adjacent to causing nan upset. There is immoderate merit to him saying he could person beaten Eubank had he been much active. Benn has missed retired connected cardinal learning years and fights complete nan past 2 and half years.

So wherever does he spell from here?

"If it was arsenic adjacent arsenic group are saying it is, past that's what is achy because I wasn't outclassed aliases wounded successful there," he says.

"Do I avenge nan loss, aliases driblet down [to welterweight] and triumph nan WBC world title? If [Mario] Barrios is watching, I'd emotion that."

Eubank has gone immoderate measurement successful transforming his nationalist image successful nan build-up.

His affectional vulnerability successful opening up astir his fractured narration pinch his begetter and nan decease of his relative successful 2021 has softened his 'bad guy' persona.

Eubank has besides won complete immoderate of his peers, too. He took a deed from his ain pouch to compensate those fighters who were expected to characteristic connected nan undercard of his cancelled 2022 conflict pinch Benn.

It was a shrewd PR move from Eubank but besides highlighted nan disparity betwixt main eventers and those who are not earning lifechanging money.

But for each his bully deeds, Eubank had to execute connected nan night. It was a tougher than expected, but he did enough.

He has been linked to a bout pinch Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez successful 2026. There will beryllium an easier way to a world title, should he wish.

Whichever guidance Eubank and Benn spell successful now, we must support successful mind really and why we sewage here.

Without nan monocle-wearing, truck-driving Eubank Sr and Army worker turned Dark Destroyer Nigel Benn, location would beryllium nary 65,000 fans astatine nan Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

While Eubank Jr and Benn person carved retired their ain careers, they are besides 2 fighters reaping nan rich | fruits of nepotism.