Eddie Hearn claims Conor Benn could have beaten Chris Eubank Jr and has questioned the three judges for all scoring the bout 116-112 in his opponent’s favour. Benn’s promoter insists there wasn’t a four-round difference between the two Brits after an enthralling scrap at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The judges all reached the same conclusion as the two families put their bad blood on the boxing canvas a third time. Their fathers Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, both in attendance in London, fought twice in the 1990s. And speaking in the ring after the fight, Matchroom Sport chairman Hearn said: “Unbelievable. I couldn’t split them at the end. I thought Conor Benn was winning the fight. I thought he lost the last two rounds. I couldn’t split them. 116-112, I’m not going to… We’ve seen him moan before about scores. It is what it is.
“I don’t see Chris Eubank winning that fight by four rounds at all. But forget that, just unbelievable respect for both men. I could not be prouder of Conor Benn for what he’s been through and the heart he showed in the ring tonight. Nigel Benn was the people’s champion. Tonight Conor Benn became the people’s champion.
“He rose up from 147lbs to fight at middleweight in there. He took the kitchen sink. He never stopped trying to win the fight. That’s what the public love to see, someone that to the final bell does not stop throwing punches and trying to win. A little bit of inactivity, a little bit of inexperience, but I could not be prouder of Conor Benn.
“Tonight I believe he won the entire hearts of the country and everyone that tuned in. I thought he could’ve won the fight. Razor thin. We’ll see what happens. Conor Benn is 147lb-er, he’s going to win world titles down there. We’ll see if we do the rematch or not at 160lbs. He’ll want to do it.
“It was one of the best fights, one of the most dramatic fights I’ve seen. Big respect to Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, two great examples. A sport built out of respect and those two warriors should respect each other after that.”
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