CARL FROCH has questioned whether Chris Eubank Jr will be able to pull it out of the fire once more to beat Conor Benn again.
Eubank spent two nights in hospital due to severe dehydration after his epic win over Benn in their April grudge match.
The son of British boxing great Chris Sr dug extremely deep in the final two rounds to secure even more bragging rights for his family.
But now at 36 – and still fighting at the 160lb middleweight limit with a 10lb rehydration clause – Froch is unsure if Eubank has one more heroic performance in him.
He said on SunSport’s No Glove Lost episode: “Because of Chris Eubank Jr’s age and how hard the first fight was – and how his father has reinforced the weight-cutting problem – I just think he won’t be as good in the rematch.
“I might be proven wrong, I hope I am but I don’t think he can do that again to the level he did because he really finished strong with his foot on the pedal for the last two rounds and I was very impressed with the way he did that.
“Conor Benn will improve, he will learn from that. He’s 28 years old, he’ll grow, he’ll improve. When you’re at the age that Eubank Jr is, you don’t get better.
“From my experience, you get a bit slower, the training becomes a bit harder, the desire, it’s just harder when you’re older, because we’re governed by age, time waits for no man.
“So I think the older Chris is probably gonna struggle a little bit more than what Conor will do.”
Eubank Sr beat Benn’s father Nigel in their classic 1990 battle before drawing three years later.
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Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 – all the info
TIME for round two of this generation’s family feud!
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn go punch-for-punch once again as both rivals look to make their fathers proud.
The blockbuster rematch takes place at the 62,000-seater Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, November 15.
Eubank Jr narrowly outpointed his bitter foe after 12 brutal rounds in April to secure the bragging rights in what was certainly a Fight of the Year contender.
And the two British superstars will dance once more as Eubank Jr aims to do the double while Benn seeks revenge after suffering a first career loss.
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So their sons were born into a rivalry which already had built in animosity – something Benn admits he struggled to contain.
Whereas Eubank remained cool, calm and composed throughout, something Froch recognised from their sparring sessions TEN YEARS ago.
He said: “I think Chris is quite a cool guy, he’s quite a composed character and I think a lot of it’s calculated and he kind of knows what he’s doing.
“From my opinion, I don’t think he’s phased. I don’t know what he did as a child when he first got into boxing.
“I know he’d spent a bit of time in America and he was maybe chucked into the Lions’ den a little bit,and did a lot of good sparring.
“Like when he came to spar me, and I use that as an example because I’ve never had anybody turn up to spar me and just be so cool and confident and just get on with it.
“And actually really throw the punches and try and not be phased and come back, which for me is like, he’s serious about the game, he’s fit, he’s strong, he’s dedicated.
“He’s missing the apprenticeship, if you like, never boxed as an amateur, and I think he’d be a fantastic fighter if he had that behind him but he hasn’t got that – neither has Conor.
“So in that sense it’s even. But I just think all the noise and the emotion and the psychology behind it all, I don’t think it matters when these two get in the ring.
“They’re both gonna be fit, strong, determined to win.”
Froch believes Benn’s youth gives him the edge in the rematch.
Because of Chris Eubank Jr’s age and how hard the first fight was – and how his father has reinforced the weight-cutting problem – I just think he won’t be as good in the rematch.
Carl Froch
He said: “My prediction for this fight would have to be so difficult to pick a winner. This fight is going to be very, very close.
“I think Conor’s gonna be better. I can see how Conor Benn wins his fight. I can see how he wins it but I can’t get past the size.
“Chris has got the size advantage. He’s the bigger man, I’ve sparred him, sparred 147 fighters, I’ve sparred 154 fighters.
“I don’t think they’re big enough, I don’t think they’re strong enough to cope with me. Eubank Jr could cope with me.
“I know he’s tough and strong. One thing he’s inherited from his dad is his toughness.
“I see the way he kept coming when Carl Thompson just unloaded on him. There’s no quitting him, he kept coming.
“The younger generation that’ve never seen Chris Eubank Sr fight, go and have a look at some of his fights because one thing his son’s inherited from him is that toughness so that’s going nowhere.
“I think Chris will be just fine. I don’t think you need to worry. You’re making a massive point that I kind of agree with, but we are where we are.
“Chris Eubank, size-wise is a slight favourite, even closer to slight favourite than the first time I just think he’s probably got that edge.
“But listen, on the first Froch on Fighting pre-fight prediction – best channel in the business – I’m probably gonna pick Conor Benn.
“I think the youngness and the freshness and what he learned from the first fight will be enough.”
