The pair put on an epic display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month, but Eubank Jr has revealed he refused to console his rival after the contest
10:16, 08 May 2025Updated 10:38, 08 May 2025
Chris Eubank Jr after his win over Conor Benn(Image: PA)
Chris Eubank Jr has revealed he refused to shake Conor Benn‘s hand because he believes his long-time rival is still a drug cheat following their epic clash last month.
Both men followed in the footsteps of their famous fathers – after their blockbuster fights in 1990 and 1993. There continues to be a real animosity between them – which dates back to when they were first due to go head-to-head back in October 2022. However, their clash was cancelled just a few days before fight night after Benn failed a drugs test. That said, the 28-year-old – who has denied any wrongdoing – had his suspension lifted last year and is now able to compete in the UK again.
Ahead of the contest, both men traded barbs on multiple occasions. During the launch press conference in Manchester, Eubank Jr slapped his rival in the face with an egg – which led to their subsequent face-off being cancelled. At the time of failed drug test, it was reported that the positive test may have been caused by Benn eating too many eggs.
Despite all the drama, the pair left everything in the ring, putting on a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Eventually, Eubank Jr would go on to get his hand raised – securing a unanimous decision victory. After trading leather for 12 gruelling rounds, ‘Next Gen’ was still in no mood to shake his foe’s hand.
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In a tell-all interview on the Diary of a CEO show, Eubank Jr has revealed he didn’t even speak to Benn after the fight. “I wasn’t expecting him to be able to do what he did in terms of show the heart and the determination and the will to win. He never gave up. I didn’t know he had that in him. I hadn’t prepared for a 12 round fight like that. I thought that I would get to five or six rounds, he’d start feeling the pace and look for a way out. He didn’t do that. So, in that respect, I have respect for him.
“The fight finished. I did not shake his hand. I didn’t congratulate him. I didn’t speak to him. I didn’t hug him, which is what most fighters do after they fight. Especially in a fight like that, you’d expect that. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have it in me. In my mind, this kid is still a drugs cheat. He still tried to cheat in our first fight, failed two drugs tests, never owned up to it. Denied it. Denied it. Denied. No apologies, no admittance, no manning up.
“I can’t forgive that. I can’t respect that. I can’t shake that hand until there is some accountability. He’s not going to give it. I have to set an example to the kids that are watching this fight…if you cheat, if you take performance enhancing drugs, you don’t get respect from me. I can’t give you that respect because there are kids who are saying ‘oh well, he was doing drugs a couple of years ago, he got caught. But now, it’s ok.'”
Ahead of the contest, a rematch clause was inserted – with the sequel reportedly being set to take place in Tottenham again in September. Regarding a potential second fight with Benn, Eubank Jr said: “I was like ‘you guys want me to sign a rematch clause for this?’ No one is going to want to watch the rematch after I do this what I’m going to do to you. That’s what was in my head. I was like ‘they’re contracting me. They have to deliver a rematch. They have to pay me this amount of money minimum. This is amazing.’ Because I’m going to go out there, blast this guy out and people aren’t probably going to want to see a rematch so this is amazing that I’m actually getting it contracted in now.”