DECLAN RICE was lauded for his bravery for going behind enemy lines to watch Chris Eubank Jr’s epic clash with Conor Benn.
The Arsenal and England midfielder was just one of several stars in attendance for the Brit classic on Saturday night.
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The middleweight match-up was staged in front of a packed crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the home of the Gunners’ sworn enemies.
And his entering of enemy territory for non-footballing reasons was pointed out by one of the commentators, who said: “He’ a brave man, Declan Rice.”
Rice was joined at the fight by England team-mates Marcus Rashford, who had missed Aston Villa‘s FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace earlier in the day through injury, and Ollie Watkins.
And the Gunners midfielder revealed he was on Team Benn before the domestic dust-up got underway, telling talkSPORT: “I want Conor Benn to win.
“I like Eubank, but I know Tony Sims, I know Conor, so I’m here supporting them to that.”
Rice then ruled out ever setting foot inside the ring, saying: “No chance.
“It takes a serious man to be on their own getting in that ring under 60,000 fans or so.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to do that, but I’m sticking to football.”
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Rice had one of the best seats in the house as Eubank Jr and Benn went toe-to-toe for 12 rounds in their Spurs slugfest.
Eubank Jr edged the contest via decision, with all three judges turning in 116-112 scorecards.
Before being transported to the hospital, Eubank Jr, 35, said of his epic win: “I knew I was capable of that. I just needed someone to bring that out of me.
“I’m not going to lie, I did not expect that he’d be the guy to do that.
“But the fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings out a different soul, a different spirit.
“That’s what we both showed here tonight. I pushed through.
“There’s a lot of things that have been going on in my life that I’m not going to get into right now.
“But I’m happy to have (my father) back with me.
“We upheld the family name like we said we were going to do. Onwards and upwards from here.”
