Conor Benn explains how he has changed ahead of Chris Eubank Jr rematch
Conor Benn will attempt to avenge his defeat by Chris Eubank Jr seven months ago when the pair lock horns again tonight in London
Conor Benn has warned Chris Eubank Jr his red mist from their first blockbuster clash has been replaced with a zen-like cool for the sequel.
A bitter Benn fought on raw emotion seven months ago when he lost to his rival in their long-awaited grudge match. He failed to keep his raging temper in check as he sought to bring a violent end to their near three-year feud. Benn’s seek-and-destroy mentality convinced him he could obliterate Eubank Jr and send him into retirement.
But his expensive battle to clear his name after two failed drug tests had consumed him with such hatred he now questions whether he was ready to fight at all. Benn now has the chance to correct his mistakes and exact his revenge in the rematch tonight.
Watch Eubank Jr. vs Benn 2 live on DAZN
The Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn rematch is set for Saturday, November 15, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fans can order the fight on DAZN PPV for £24.99 or watch it free with a DAZN Ultimate plan.
And he said: “I still don’t like him, but I feel very differently now. I’m a very emotional guy and it’s down to me to keep my emotions at bay which I have done, up to now. “You can see his antics already and to me he looks worried because he’s clutching at straws to try and get me going, but I don’t feel like that’s me anymore.
“I’ve worked religiously on tactics in the gym, I’m not going in there swinging this time. I was going back to the corner not even questioning whether I had won the round or not. It went so quickly, I couldn’t tell if I’d won the round because I just wanted to hammer him. That was my mindset but now it’s about keeping those feelings at bay.
“I’m glad everyone enjoyed the last one but I feel I’ve done that now and it’s about getting the win. I feel like I was still healing, I was still troubled, disturbed, restless and angry. I was bitter at life. My priority was getting back to fighting but just because I could get back to fighting doesn’t mean I should have.
READ MORE: Chris Eubank Jr makes final promise to Conor Benn ahead of rematch
“They say a strong mind can carry a weak body but a weak mind can’t carry a strong body. It was hard fighting my demons, coming back to fighting in the UK for the first time in three weeks, having my first fight at middleweight and only my second 12-rounder.”
Benn will start as the underdog for what he insists will be the final chapter of his family’s 35-year conflict with the Eubanks. His dad failed to beat Chris Sr in their two clashes three decades ago and so his son is now fighting for scraps. But he is confident he can restore some pride to the Benn name.
“Ultimately, I took the fight because I believe I can beat the man,” he added. “I’ve not sacrificed what I have just to lose; especially not publicly and especially not to a Eubank.”
