If you’re looking for a way to define the term “unfinished business”, this is it. Chris Eubank v Nigel Benn was one of the biggest boxing stories of the 1990s, but it was never conclusively resolved. Eubank won their first fight in 1990, and then the 1993 rematch ended in a draw – and the two never met in the ring again. If an episode of EastEnders had an ending that unsatisfying, we’d be writing a sternly worded email.

But! The Eubank-Benn rivalry has been resurrected for the 2020s, and there’s a chance it can be decided once and for all when the former boxers’ sons, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, meet at The O2 Arena – a fight you can see live on Saturday 8 October on DAZN PPV with Virgin Media.

To say it’s been a long time coming would obviously be an understatement. So read on for details of how to watch the fight and more about this epic multi-generational rivalry…

How important is the rivalry to the boxers?

“My dad can beat up your dad…” Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn’s two bouts were huge in the 1990s

 
There may not be any belts or titles on the line here, but both fighters have made it clear that it matters a great deal to them. “This fight is for the legacy and was an opportunity I felt I couldn’t pass up,” is how Benn puts it. “My team and I had other options on the table and no doubt I’m looking for a world championship fight very soon, but this fight is embedded with so much history and I know it’s one the public really want to see.”

“I grew up watching legendary battles and always wanting to emulate that, and find my own arch-nemesis… Could this now be Conor Benn? We will find out,” says Eubank Jr. “He has walked the same path as I have. I know his struggle. Living in the shadow of a legend and trying to break out of that shadow and make his own name. If he can beat me, his name will be made, and he will never walk in his father’s shadow again.”

So intense is the focus on the generation-spanning nature of this contest that the fight has been named Born Rivals. “Ever since they both turned professional, people talked about this moment and now is the time to see the historic rivalry continue,” says promoter Eddie Hearn. “These two born rivals will do battle in an epic match-up that has absolutely everything.”

It’s a bit of luck they fight at the same weight, then, isn’t it?

That’s my boy! Conor Benn with the WBA Continental welterweight belt

 
Er, well, about that… Their fathers tussled over world middleweight titles and all Eubank Jr’s fights since 2019 have been at middleweight (160lb/72.6kg) after a period at super middleweight, but Benn has fought for most of his career at welterweight (147lb/66.7kg). So it’s a testament to how determined everyone was to see this fight staged that the two sides agreed to it, despite this disparity.

Fortunately there is precedent in boxing for this issue: it’s known as catchweight, an agreed-upon weight limit for a specific fight that may not be an official weight category but allows hotly anticipated match-ups like this one. The catchweight here is 157lb (71.2kg), which could be tricky for Eubank in particular since he’s never before weighed in below 158lb. If either doesn’t make weight, they’ll face a fine that could make quite a dent in their night’s earnings.

Who is the favourite?

Take the weight off… Chris Eubank Jr with the IBO super middleweight belt, which he held for a year before losing it to George Groves

 
Eubank is the clear favourite with the bookies – not surprisingly, as the heavier boxer – and several pundits have predicted victory for him. In a discussion on TALKSport, broadcasters Simon Jordan and Ade Oladipo agreed that they expected a Eubank victory. “I think if Chris Eubank is focused and ready to go, he wins this fight,” Jordan said, while Oladipo called it “a risky fight for Conor”. On the other hand, he pointed out, “if Conor wins, he’s a superstar immediately”.

British Boxing News co-founder Tim Rickson forecasts a win for Eubank by stoppage, but cautions: “It’s difficult to tell when this will happen until we see how Benn starts. Will he be as aggressive as his last few fights? Because that fighting fury will be too hasty and reckless to work. Or will it be a far more cautious, calculated approach knowing the size and calibre of his opponent? Whatever happens, I think Benn will have quite a few rounds in him because he has proven his heart before.” Ultimately, he thinks Benn will take Eubank to the sixth round before being stopped.

As for Benn himself, he bristles at the suggestion that all Eubank has to do is turn up to win. “All I know is that from my side, this will be an all-out war, last-man-standing kind of fight. I won’t be looking to take this to the score cards – this will be explosive from the off. I’m so up for this.”

Is it worth mentioning that Chris Eubank Sr has expressed some fatherly concern over his son fighting at the unfamiliar catchweight? Maybe. Some say it’s just mind games… 

What happens after this fight?

No matter the result, both fighters will hope that it raises their profiles and pushes them closer to a world title fight. Eubank has four wins from four since returning to middleweight and is ranked fourth worldwide in the category by BoxRec, while Benn – who’s still unbeaten in his pro career – is WBA Continental champ and a top ten-ranked welterweight with BoxRec, ESPN and The Ring.

Who’s on the undercard?

Golden Galal… British flyweight Olympic gold winner Galal Yafai in his last fight against Miguel Cartagena

Those who tune in for the night’s earlier fights will get the chance to see Team GB’s Tokyo gold medallist Galal Yafai in his third pro fight, defending his WBC International flyweight title against Mexico’s Gohan Rodriguez Garcia. Surrey middleweight Felix Cash meets US-based Irishman Connor Coyle for the WBA Intercontinental belt – and with both fighters unbeaten, something has to give.

South London’s Ellie Scotney will be looking to add the European super bantamweight belt to her WBA Intercontinental one when she meets Mary Romero of Spain. Other British boxers in action are Shannon Courtenay and Gemma Ruegg, who face off at bantamweight, and light heavyweight Lyndon Arthur, who takes on Argentina’s Cesar Hernan Reynoso. There’s a familiar name on the card too, as Harlem Eubank – Chris Jr’s cousin – fights Spain’s David Martín Campillo in a super lightweight clash. 

How do they measure up?

When is Eubank Jr v Benn on TV?

You can see this fight on DAZN PPV with Virgin Media from 7pm on Saturday 8 October. It’s available to order from 10am Tuesday 4 October and costs £27.98.

The event cannot be recorded and will be repeated on Sunday 9 October starting at 9am, 2pm and 7pm (last playout).

The purchase will include access to the fight and will also entitle you to redeem one month’s access to DAZN – please see details at point of purchase. Promotion is owned and operated by DAZN.

How can I order the fight?

To watch this event, you must have a TiVo^® box, Virgin TV V6 box, powered by TiVo^®, or Virgin TV 360 box. The event cannot be purchased on Stream.

TiVo^® and V6 customers: Go to Home > On Demand > Live Events or press On Demand and go to Live Events. Press the red button then choose the event and follow the instructions on screen. A TV PIN may not be required. To view your booking, once purchased, go to On Demand > Live Events > Event Bookings.

Virgin TV 360 customers: Go to Home > Live Events, press OK then choose your event and follow the instructions on screen. A TV PIN may not be required. To view your booking, once purchased, go to Home > Saved > Rentals.