Conor Benn’s arrival on the big stage comes at the…

The world of UK boxing is Conor Benn’s oyster after his dominant win over Chris Eubank Jr. (Action Images via Reuters / Reuters)The most dramatic boxing moment of the year so far didn’t happen in the ring. It happened at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, hours before Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. first touched gloves.The noise was deafening when Eubank Jr. unexpectedly arrived at the venue with his father, the iconic and unpredictable Chris Eubank Sr. The two Benns, Conor and his legendary father, Nigel, watched from their dressing room in visible disbelief. The elder Eubank had publicly denounced the fight, disapproved of his son’s career choices and had a strained relationship with him for years. And yet, there they were — reunited for the third installment of the historic Eubank-Benn rivalry.AdvertisementIt looked like another psychological ploy from the Eubanks, and its effect on the Benns was clear. Conor later called his performance “poor,” and though he dropped a competitive unanimous decision in a Fight of the Year contender, the feeling was that the Benn corner had already lost the fight long before the opening bell.The main-event arrivals during the rematch this past Saturday were not as grand, but arguably just as interesting. When promoter Eddie Hearn labeled Benn “the people’s champion” after his first fight with Eubank, even the biggest Benn supporters were left unconvinced. Benn was given a hostile reception when he entered Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first fight, largely due to a pair of failed drug tests dating back to 2022 and the murky, convoluted route through which he was cleared to return.But on Saturday night, it was the Eubanks’ arrival that was surprisingly met with a mixed reception, and it was the Benns who got the biggest applause of the night. If you’d only read social media, you’d have been left bemused. It was Benn the British public resonated with after all. Why? Because Benn was the one who forced the action in their April instant classic. He fought hard, was humble in defeat and vowed to do better in the rematch.AdvertisementIn British boxing, fans often value bravery and grit over perfection — they want to see someone with the flaws that make him human and relatable. Heavyweight veteran Derek Chisora has lost 13 times in his career and is still adored by UK fight fans. It is not uncommon for defeated boxers to receive warm receptions in Britain if they fight hard and lose with grace, and that was what Benn experienced as the stage was set for the fourth chapter of the Eubank-Benn rivalry. Winning the fans over was a massive psychological boost for Benn early in the night.“The Destroyer” went on to deliver the best performance of his career. He boxed with maturity, discipline and purpose, snapping out an active jab, investing to the body and mixing aggression with control. Two knockdowns in the final round sealed a dominant win. The attributes that once made Benn a projected world champion were suddenly back — this time two divisions above his best weight class.For years, Benn was considered the natural successor to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury as the next face of boxing in the UK, however Benn’s journey hit its turbulence over the past few years, stalled by the failed tests and inactivity. All that initial momentum had stopped; the fans were no longer in his corner.But in 2025, with the support of the British public firmly back behind him, the stars have now realigned for Benn.AdvertisementJoshua, Fury and Eubank are all over the age of 35 and each of their careers is winding down. Benn’s rise to superstardom couldn’t have come at a better time for British boxing. The sport in the UK is desperate for the next crop of stars to take over from the old guard, and Benn, 29, coming off the biggest win of his career, is in the perfect position to lead that transition.While the likes of Moses Itauma and Ben Whittaker are still emerging, Benn separates himself because of what he has already achieved so far. He has headlined two stadium-level events, been involved in one of the biggest domestic rivalries of the past decade, and survived the kind of scrutiny that would have broken many fighters. That, in addition to his surname being one of the most famous in British sports over the past four decades, gives him name recognition across multiple demographics. Whether you like or hate Benn, you care about him — and that is what makes him a star. Benn is one of the few fighters who will cross over to the man on the street, and that gives him the ability to become a major pay-per-view attraction and ticket-seller.Benn expects to drop back down to welterweight for his next fight — a division that’s as open as it has been in recent years. Hearn’s Matchroom, which promotes Benn, also has IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker in its stable. Talks have taken place in the past for Benn to face WBC titlist Mario Barrios, and Benn’s name has been linked with Rolando “Rolly” Romero, who holds the WBA strap, presenting three winnable world-title opportunities for Benn. Outside of the champions, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are also stationed at 147 pounds.With more than £15 million ($19.8 million) in earnings from two Eubank Jr. fights, Benn can now focus on the legacy part of his career in big, world-level fights at welterweight — although it would be difficult to imagine anything topping becoming the first Benn to beat a Eubank in the historic 35-year rivalry.That victory didn’t just settle a long-standing family feud — it positioned Benn as the next face of British boxing.

Анжелика Флёрко

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