‘If I lose, I’m finished!’ – Chris Eubank Jr says world title dream is over if he loses to Conor Benn in historic British showdown

Chris Eubank Jr insists he will be ‘finished’ in boxing if he loses to Conor Benn in October.

30 years after their fathers went to war in one of the most compelling rivalries in the history of British boxing, Eubank Jr and Benn set about recreating that intensity at a press conference on Friday.

In the first face-to-face meeting between the two, Eubank Jr, who has competed at middleweight and super-middleweight throughout his career, addressed the challenge of dropping down to the catchweight of 157lbs.

Insisting he will only be able to operate at ’60 per cent’ against Benn on 8 October, he admitted his chances of going on to fight for a world title will be dashed should he taste defeat.

But with that thought far from his mind, Eubank Jr vowed to ‘liquidate’ his younger opponent on the night.

‘For him, it is a win-win. For me, it’s lose-lose,’ Eubank Jr said.

‘If I lose to Conor Benn, I am finished. My goal is to fight for a world middleweight title next year. I can’t lose to Conor Benn and then say, ‘let me fight for a middleweight title.’ It can’t happen.

‘If I win, I most likely won’t get the credit for it. It is a lose-lose, all the risk and pressure is on me. He [Benn] has got his pressure, but I have a lot more to lose. You’re in a great position. Make an absurd amount of money.

‘But make no mistake, the money you make is all good but on 8 October I’m going to liquidate you.’

Eubank Snr beat Benn in Birmingham in 1990 before the rivals met again at Old Trafford three years later. The rematch ended in a draw, with Benn promising to even the score three decades on.

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