Chris Eubank Jr. left his bitter rival Conor Benn with egg on his face as their Manchester face-off descendedinto bedlam, igniting tensions between the two English boxers just weeks before their highly-anticipated clash scheduled for April 26.
The bizarre incident unfolded during a heated press conference held at Manchester Central, where Eubank Jr. slapped Benn across the cheek with an egg, leading to chaos as security scrambled to separate the fighters. This slap marked their first official encounter following their history-laden rivalry, which includes their fathers’ legendary clashes from three decades ago.
Throughout the 40-minute press event, tensions escalated rapidly as Eubank Jr. and Benn exchanged relentless insults. Eubank’s egg slap, intended as both mockery and fuel for their longstanding animosity, prompted Benn to erupt with fury, declaring, "That’s the only shot you’ll land on me you f*** p" on social media shortly after the incident. Benn's outburst echoed across platforms, intensifying anticipation for their bout, where he predicts, "Two rounds, you are finished @ChrisEubankJr."
Setting the tone for the event, Eubank Jr. seized the moment to reiterate the connection between the egg and Benn's previous performance-enhancing drug controversy. Benn had tested positive for clomifene, leading to the cancellation of their originally scheduled fight back in October 2022. Eubank remarked grimly on social media, "Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg." Following this, Eubank added with humor, "Eggcellent," alongside images of Benn with egg dripping from his face.
The rivalry has reportedly heated up, particularly after the WBC declared last February the nature of Benn's failed drug tests stemmed from "a highly elevated consumption of eggs." This statement from the governing body gave Eubank the fuel he needed to turn the egg slap incident from sheer shock value to tactical mockery.
Conor Benn, 28, who has won all 23 of his fights with 14 knockouts, has always insisted he did not willingly take any banned substances. Meanwhile, he garners high praise from his promoter, Eddie Hearn, who expressed faith, saying, "Honestly, I've never seen anyone train like Conor Benn. He's like a man possessed." Hearn also claimed on Sky Sports, "If you want to be around Conor tonight, run," hinting at the heightened emotions and potential for future confrontations.
Hearn did not shy away from condemning Eubank's behavior, describing it as "a b* move to be honest with you," after the tofu-based stunt. He continued, lamenting over the repercussions, stating, "You don’t want to be backstage tonight. If this was any other world, it would be publicized as remarkable but let's be honest, everything changes now about this fight." Hearn expressed concern for upcoming media events and noted, "I don’t know if we can do Thursday’s press conference. It may be attack on sight."
That sentiment was echoed by Benn’s promoter, Ben Shalom, who observed the unusual turn events had taken. Shalom remarked, "My god, this was mental. It might have crossed the line, it will be interesting what happens on Thursday now," implying the need to reassess security at any forthcoming events. He added, "Chris is uncontrollable. When he feels like doing something, he'll do it." Such comments suggest the rivalry may incite more than mere promotional antics as both fighters find themselves on the precipice of significant financial and reputational stakes.
While this tumultuous press conference captivated audiences, it also highlighted how deeply personal the rivalry runs, drawing from the legacies of their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who competed fiercely back in the 1990s. The April 26 fight is positioned to signal the continuation of this family feud, generating significant spectator interest as boxing legends are tied to the present-day contenders.
The stakes for this fight extend beyond personal grudges; Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has suggested potential for the winner among mega combatants, including the acclaimed Canelo Alvarez, emphasizing the ultimate prize on the line.
Fans, marketers, and boxing aficionados alike are poised to witness whether Eubank Jr.'s shocking egg incident turns out to be mere theatrics or whether it will amplify the grudge to explosive proportions come fight night at the sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The bout between Eubank and Benn is no longer just about the clash of two fighters; it's become symbolic of legacies intertwining across generations.