The boxing world is reeling after former world champion Tony Bellew unleashed a scathing verbal assault on Chris Eubank Jr, just two weeks before his highly anticipated grudge match against Conor Benn on April 26, 2025, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In an explosive interview on talkSPORT aired at 7:31 AM BST on April 10, 2025, Bellew didn’t hold back, branding Eubank Jr a “terrible boxer” and questioning his ability to compete at the elite level, leaving fans and pundits stunned by the brutal assessment.

The Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn fight has been billed as one of the biggest in British boxing history, reigniting a family feud that began in the 1990s between Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, Conor’s father. The bout, originally scheduled for October 2022, was canceled after Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene, leading to a two-year suspension that was lifted in November 2024 by the National Anti-Doping Panel. The rescheduled fight at 160 pounds, with a 10-pound rehydration clause, has sold out its 60,000 seats and is expected to draw over 1.2 million pay-per-view buys on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN PPV.

Bellew, a retired cruiserweight world champion and respected boxing analyst, has been vocal about the matchup in recent weeks. However, his latest comments on talkSPORT took his criticism of Eubank Jr to a new level. “Chris Eubank Jr is a terrible boxer,” Bellew declared, his tone laced with disdain. “He’s been schooled by the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves—proper world champions—and he’s been spanked. He thinks he’s the next Roy Jones Jr., but he’s not even close. Technically, he’s not very good. Which world champion would he beat? I don’t see it.” Bellew’s harsh words were a direct attack on Eubank Jr’s boxing pedigree, questioning his skills despite his record of 35-3 with 24 KOs. 

Bellew didn’t stop there. He predicted that Eubank Jr’s lack of technical ability would be his downfall against Benn, who is moving up two weight classes from welterweight. “The first six rounds will belong to Conor Benn—he’ll be ferocious, brutal, and vicious,” Bellew said. “Conor will catch him, nail him, and jump all over him. If Eubank survives past six rounds, then size might come into play, but I don’t think he’ll last that long. Conor’s going to stop him early, and it’ll be brutal.” Bellew’s prediction of a “vicious” early stoppage by Benn has added fuel to the fire, with many now questioning whether Eubank Jr can withstand the younger fighter’s intensity. 

Eubank Jr, 35, responded to Bellew’s comments with characteristic defiance in a post on Instagram at 10:00 AM BST on April 11, 2025. “Tony Bellew can say what he wants, but he’s just a hater,” Eubank Jr wrote, alongside a video of him hitting the pads. “I’ve been underestimated my whole career, and I keep proving people wrong. Conor Benn won’t last six rounds with me, and Bellew will eat his words on April 26.” Eubank Jr’s confidence comes despite his recent history, which includes a stoppage loss to Liam Smith in January 2023, though he avenged that defeat later in the year with an early finish of his own.

Conor Benn, 28, embraced Bellew’s prediction in a statement to Boxing News on April 11, 2025. “I’ve always respected Tony, and he’s spot on,” Benn said. “I’m coming to destroy Eubank Jr. He’s been running his mouth for years, and I’m going to shut him up for good.” Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, added, “Tony knows what he’s talking about. Conor’s in the best shape of his life, and Eubank Jr is in for a rude awakening.”

The boxing community has been set alight by Bellew’s comments, with the hashtag #BellewDestroysEubank trending on X, amassing over 150,000 mentions by the evening of April 11, 2025. Fans are divided—some agree with Bellew’s assessment, with one user writing, “Bellew’s right, Eubank Jr’s been exposed by top fighters. Benn’s going to finish him!” Others defended Eubank Jr, with another user commenting, “Bellew’s talking nonsense. Eubank’s size and experience will be too much for Benn.”

Prominent figures in the sport also weighed in. Carl Froch, speaking on his YouTube channel Froch on Fighting, disagreed with Bellew’s prediction, saying, “I think Eubank Jr beats Benn. He’s the bigger man, and size matters in this fight.” Meanwhile, boxing analyst Dan Rafael, on his podcast The Fight Freaks Unite Recap, noted, “Bellew’s comments are harsh, but there’s truth to them. Eubank Jr has struggled against elite opposition, and Benn’s ferocity could be a problem.” 

As the countdown to April 26 continues, Bellew’s blistering critique has put Eubank Jr under immense pressure. With the stakes higher than ever, the Fatal Fury showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium promises to be an explosive battle of pride, legacy, and redemption. Will Eubank Jr silence his critics, or will Benn prove Bellew right with a devastating early stoppage? The boxing world waits with bated breath.