Conor Benn’s trainer, Tony Sims, believes that age will be a factor when Benn faces Chris Eubank Jnr on April 26.
The pair will finally square off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London after their original contest in October 2022 was cancelled due to Benn testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs on two tests.
Benn, considered a welterweight contender before his suspension, will move up two weight divisions to face Eubank at middleweight. Eubank is no small middleweight; he has competed at 168lbs in the past, beating former titleholder James DeGale in 2019.
Despite Eubank’s huge size advantage, Benn’s team remains incredibly confident heading into the contest. Asked why he is so self-assured, Sims said he believes that the 35-year-old Eubank’s best days are behind him.
“I just think … Chris Eubank Jnr, he's a good fighter,” Sims told BoxingScene. “I think if we was talking five years ago, when he was at the top of his game, he was a great fighter. But I just think, like everything with age, in sport, age catches up on you.
“He turns 36 this year in September. And Conor's obviously at the height of his game at the minute. He's 28 years old. He's in the prime of his career. I believe the speed and the tenacity that Conor brings to the table will be too much for Chris Eubank Jnr at this stage of his career.”
Eubank’s last defeat came at the hands of former junior middleweight belt holder Liam Smith back in January 2023. Smith had moved up to middleweight for the contest and was not considered a puncher, but he stopped Eubank in four rounds. Eubank then avenged his loss in a rematch with Smith eight months later, but there were doubts about Smith’s condition in the fight due to injuries in camp.
Sims believes that Smith showed Eubank is on the decline as far back as their first contest.
“Liam Smith was a 154lb fighter,” Sims said. “Chris had the size advantage on him, as well. Liam's proved himself at world level; former world champion. And I don't know how much to look into the second fight, because Liam looked out of sorts in the second fight. He didn't look ready for it.
“But obviously in the first fight, he absolutely demolished Chris Eubank Jnr, and Chris didn't look like the fighter the days of when he boxed, even when he boxed [George] Groves. He's been a good fighter. You can't say he ain't. But I just think Father Time catches up with everybody.”