The boxing world is on fire tonight after Chris Eubank Jr launched a blistering attack on Nigel Benn, the father of his upcoming opponent Conor Benn, accusing him of being the mastermind behind their heated rivalry. In an explosive interview on Sky Sports News aired at 6:00 PM BST on April 11, 2025, Eubank Jr claimed that Nigel Benn’s actions and words over the years have fueled the bad blood between the two fighters, escalating their upcoming Fatal Fury showdown on April 26, 2025, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a deeply personal grudge match.

The Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn fight is a continuation of a historic family feud that began in the 1990s, when Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn clashed in two iconic bouts—Eubank Sr won the first in 1990, and their 1993 rematch ended in a draw. The sons were set to face off in October 2022, but the bout was canceled after Conor Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene, leading to a two-year suspension that was lifted in November 2024. The rescheduled fight at 160 pounds, with a 10-pound rehydration clause, has sold out its 60,000 seats and is projected to draw over 1.2 million pay-per-view buys on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN PPV.

During the Sky Sports News interview, Eubank Jr (35-3, 24 KOs) didn’t hold back when discussing Nigel Benn’s role in their rivalry. “Nigel Benn is the one who ignited this whole thing,” Eubank Jr said, his voice filled with frustration. “He’s been stoking the fire for years, talking about how his son is going to destroy me, how the Benn name will bury the Eubank legacy. He’s the one who made this personal, not me. I was ready to keep it professional, but Nigel turned it into a war, and now he’s going to see his son pay the price for his big mouth.” Eubank Jr’s comments come after a series of heated exchanges, including an incident in February 2025 where he slapped Conor Benn with an egg at a press conference—a stunt that cost him a £100,000 fine from the British Boxing Board of Control.

Nigel Benn, a former two-division world champion known as “The Dark Destroyer,” has been a vocal presence in the buildup to the fight. He was seen grabbing Eubank Jr by the throat after the egg incident, prompting Eubank Jr to issue a chilling warning at a subsequent press conference: “If your hand ever touches me again, you won’t get it back.” Nigel has also made bold predictions, telling The Sun in March 2025, “Conor’s going to knock Eubank Jr out cold. The Benn name will reign supreme.” These actions and statements, according to Eubank Jr, have turned a professional boxing match into a deeply personal vendetta.

Conor Benn (23-0, 15 KOs) fired back at Eubank Jr’s comments in a statement on Instagram at 8:00 PM BST on April 11, 2025. “Chris Eubank Jr is a coward for dragging my dad into this,” Benn wrote, alongside a photo of him training. “He’s scared of me, so he’s trying to make excuses and point fingers. My dad’s a legend, and I’m proud to carry his name. Eubank Jr will feel the full force of the Benn legacy on April 26.” Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, added fuel to the fire, telling Boxing News, “Eubank Jr is rattled. He knows Conor’s coming for him, and now he’s trying to blame Nigel for his own fears.”

The boxing community has been set ablaze by Eubank Jr’s accusations, with the hashtag #EubankSlamsNigel trending on X, racking up over 180,000 mentions by the evening of April 11, 2025. Fans are divided—some support Eubank Jr’s view, with one user writing, “Nigel Benn’s been stirring the pot for years. Eubank Jr’s right to call him out!” Others sided with the Benn family, with another user commenting, “Eubank Jr is just looking for excuses. Nigel’s a proud dad, and Conor’s going to make him prouder by knocking Eubank out!”

Prominent figures in the sport have also weighed in. Former champion Carl Froch, speaking on his YouTube channel Froch on Fighting, said, “Nigel Benn’s always been a fiery character, and that’s rubbed off on Conor. Eubank Jr’s got a point—Nigel’s definitely added to the tension.” Meanwhile, boxing analyst Dan Rafael, on his podcast The Fight Freaks Unite Recap, noted, “This fight was always going to be personal because of the history, but Eubank Jr’s comments about Nigel have taken it to another level. It’s a full-on war now.”

As the countdown to April 26 continues, Eubank Jr’s attack on Nigel Benn has intensified the stakes for this already explosive matchup. With family pride, legacy, and personal grudges on the line, the Fatal Fury showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic fights in British boxing history. Will Eubank Jr back up his words and settle the score, or will Conor Benn prove his father right by delivering a knockout blow? The world will be watching.