CHRIS EUBANK JR says his “barbaric” cross-weight war with Conor Benn is far from friendly fire.
The second-generation sluggers picked up their fathers’ iconic old rivalry in April, with the 36-year-old Brighton man making it 2-0 to the Eubanks, with one draw, in the history books.
That original bout was a spiteful saga, fuelled by Benn’s doping scandal, personal insults, an infamous egg slap, plus Eubank missing his gruelling weight target by 0.05lb and handing Benn a £375,000 bonus.
They are now richer, older, wiser — Eubank Jr is expecting twin boys — and neither seems to be trying to infiltrate the other’s skin or mind.
But Junior insists the dangerous dehydration process and the simmering rivalry are still as real and savage as ever.
Ahead of Saturday’s sequel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he said:“The barbaric side of the weight cut comes 24-36 hours before the weigh-in — that’s when the pain comes.
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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“This is the fight game, this is not nice. People are trying to strip you of your health.
“Niceties don’t come into my mind. I don’t think about those types of things in this sport.
“It doesn’t sadden me because I know what we have to do.
“This is a blood sport so can you really be surprised when people are doing all these underhanded things?
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“It comes with the territory. If you’re going to be in a bloodsport, be prepared to deal with savages.”
Conor Benn, 29, eventually won his doping case, which saw the original bout postponed, but he exercised his right to have the evidence withheld as to why testosterone-boosting female fertility drug clomiphene was twice found in his system.
Eubank Jr still calls Benn a “drug cheat” but admits he was impressed by how he lasted the 12-round distance.
Eubank Jr said: “He didn’t give up. That’s the only thing that shocked me.
“A man willing to take performance-enhancing drugs… men like that usually come with certain characteristics.
“When the going gets tough, they look to quit, because they don’t believe in themselves — that’s why they take drugs.
“Knowing Conor Benn took steroids, I thought his mindset was weak and that once I dragged him into those deep waters he would look for a way out, just like he was when he was taking those drugs. But, to my shock and surprise, he didn’t.”
Eubank Jr — like his dad — has been a divisive character. Two-weight world champ Chris Eubank Sr, 59, rode around Hove in a seven-ton American truck in jodhpurs and a monocle.
His son drips in Louis Vuitton leather and prefers McLarens and Lamborghinis.
They are both accused of arrogance but, despite an army of haters across a few generations, neither have any of the dark marks on their records that stain plenty of other famous fighters.
Junior said: “It’s something I’ve prided myself on: telling the truth, being moral, and being a stand-up guy, not lying, not stealing or taking advantage.
“Not taking drugs, not quitting in the ring, not taking days off in the gym.
“But fighters like that are rare.”
