Chris Eubank Jr has revealed why he refused to shake Conor Benn's hand following their explosive middleweight clash at Tottenham's stadium in late April.
Despite emerging victorious after a gruelling 12-round contest, Eubank broke with boxing tradition by not embracing his opponent.
The 35-year-old fighter walked away with bragging rights in the renewal of their famous family feud.
But unlike most epic bouts, there was no reconciliation between the bitter adversaries after the final bell.
Chris Eubank Jr opened up for the first time since his fight with Conor Benn on the Diary of a CEO podcast
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Speaking on the Diary Of A CEO podcast, Eubank explained his refusal to congratulate Benn after the fight, claiming Benn was a ‘drugs cheat’ and he ‘can’t forgive’ or ‘respect’ his counterpart.
“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”, he said.
“I couldn't do it. I didn't have it in me because in my mind, this kid is still a drugs cheat."
Eubank's resentment stems from Benn's failed drug tests in 2022. He later cleared his name, having always insisted he was never guilty of any wrongdoing.
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Conor Benn was cleared to fight Chris Eubank after failing a drugs test in 2022
Reuters
Eubank continued: “He still tried to cheat in our first fight. Failed two drug tests - never owned up to it.
"Denied it, denied it, denied it. No apologies, no admittance, no manning up and 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."
Benn tested positive for clomifene, a banned substance known to boost testosterone, though he maintained his innocence throughout the controversy.
The failed tests led to a provisional suspension from UK Anti-Doping, derailing the original fight plans between the two rivals just two days before it was scheduled to take place in October 2022.
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During the suspension, Benn took his career to America, securing two victories while his case continued in the UK. Eventually, UKAD dropped their case against the 28-year-old fighter, clearing the way for the boxing star to return to fighting on home soil.
The long-awaited showdown with Eubank was subsequently arranged at the 160lb middleweight limit, with the 35-year-old narrowly missing the agreed weight limit by just 0.05lb, which proved costly.
The weight mishap resulted in a substantial £375,000 fine for the boxer.
Per their contract, Eubank also had to weigh under 170 lbs on the morning of the fight due to a rehydration clause. Despite these challenges, he secured a unanimous points victory over Benn.
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Chris Eubank Jr fell to the floor with emotion following his win against Conor Benn
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The physical toll was evident, with Eubank spending two days in hospital due to severe dehydration after the bout.
Despite the grudge, a rematch appears to be on the horizon. He confirmed: "It's very likely that the fight will happen again at some point this year.
"I want what the fans want. If the fans want to see it next, who am I to say no?"
Benn also confirmed plans for a rematch, saying: “As far as I’m aware, the contracts have already been signed. I’m hearing September [at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium], or Wembley [Stadium] maybe.”
The fight, which took place in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, was immediately an all-time classic by spectators, who saw the pair endure a gruelling 12 rounds of constant action.
Eubank claimed that if fans wanted to see it, he would do ‘everything in my power to oblige’.
One thing is for sure, there won’t be a boxing fan out there who would not want to see the two warriors battle it out once more.
