Conor Benn may have gained more respect and popularity in defeat against Chris Eubank Jr than he has for any of his 23 wins, coming up short with a tremendously brave and hard-fought effort against a naturally bigger man, in what turned out to be a fight even greater than its promoters likely figured.
Benn didn’t complain of a robbery or anything, sounding disappointed, which you would expect of someone who came up short giving that sort of effort.
“I felt like it was a close fight. I’ve got to watch it back, I know it was close. I stayed on the ropes maybe a bit too long, and he worked harder towards the end. I’m gonna have to watch it back, but I enjoyed it,” he said.
Benn (23-1, 14 KO) said that the pre-fight talk didn’t mean anything once the bell sounded, and that he knew Eubank (35-3, 25 KO) was a good fighter and a tough challenge going in.
He also said that he’d love to do the rematch immediately at 160, but if it’s not there, he’ll go back to 147 and target Mario Barrios and the WBC title.
“We always knew Chris is a good fighter. I mean all the fighting talk is fighting talk. He’s a good fighter,” Benn said.
“I believe I can fight at 160. If we don’t do the rematch — which I’d love to avenge that loss — then we’ll go back down to welterweight and win the WBC world title. It’s either Mario Barrios or the rematch with Eubank. Whatever happens next, I’ll be content with.”
