Chris Eubank Jr quickly responded to Conor Benn’s defeat by Ryan Garcia on Saturday, taunting his longtime rival following the decisive loss. Benn, competing for a world title for the first time, challenged Garcia for the WBC welterweight championship but was stopped in the second round during their fight in Las Vegas.
As expected, the 29-year-old Benn launched an aggressive attack early but was caught with a powerful right hook in round two that knocked him down hard. Although Benn managed to beat the referee’s count, he was soon overwhelmed, prompting the referee to stop the fight. This marked only the second loss of Benn’s professional career and his first time being stopped inside the distance. Previously in April 2025, Eubank Jr had won a points decision over Benn, who later returned the favor in their November rematch.
Eubank Jr wasted no time commenting on Benn’s loss, tweeting: “Welcome to the ‘fighting after cutting too much weight’ club… Enjoy.” This jab referenced Benn competing at welterweight for the first time in over two years, having faced Eubank Jr at middleweight in their bouts and most recently defeating Regis Prograis at a 150-pound catchweight. Eubank Jr, 36, also highlighted his own frustrations with fighting Benn at middleweight, noting that super-middleweight is his preferred division at this stage in his career.
A trilogy fight between Benn and Eubank Jr seems likely, with Benn expected to move away from welterweight permanently. Should they meet again, their rivalry could surpass the legendary battles between their fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr, who fought twice in the 1990s with one win and one draw for Eubank Sr.
The two fighters were initially scheduled to face off in 2022, but the bout fell through after Benn failed two drug tests. Although Benn denied the allegations and was provisionally suspended in the UK, he was cleared to compete again in 2024. Meanwhile, Garcia also faced his own doping controversy between 2024 and 2025, receiving a one-year ban despite asserting his innocence.
Fan Take: This development adds a new dimension to an already intense rivalry that fighting fans have been eagerly anticipating, especially with both fighters navigating challenges in recent years. The potential trilogy between Benn and Eubank Jr, combined with Garcia’s rising profile, could inject fresh drama and excitement into the sport’s welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
