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Jack Catterall has just delivered a devastating statement, stopping Ekow Essuman in the 11th round after a fierce combination sent Essuman out of the ring and left him down on the apron. With new trainer Bozy Ennis in his corner, Catterall looked sharper and more crowd-pleasing than ever, asserting himself as a emerging force at welterweight. Concern remained for Essuman’s condition, but the TKO firmly put the division on notice.
Donald McRae
Torrential rain lashed across north London yesterday and the mood tonight at the Tottenham Hotspur would have been very different if we had to face more of the same. But it’s crisp and, so far, mercifully dry. The stadium is about 90% full but a large number of tickets were easily available, and at a marked-down price, earlier today. Thousands of freebies were also dished out this week – which indicates that demand for Benn-Eubank Jr II needed a little boost.
Benn and Eubank Jr should make their ringwalks around 10pm. The undercard is rattling along.
Richard Riakporhe calls himself the Midnight Train but, just before 7pm, the former cruiserweight looked like a hurtling freight train as he obliterated Tommy Welch’s unbeaten record. He knocked down Welch heavily three times in round two before the referee waved an end to a mismatch that had been expected to be briefly competitive. Welch had warned Riakporhe that he would send him on the last bus home – perhaps the least successful boxing prophecy of 2025. This was only Riakphorhe’s second fight as a heavyweight but he looked impressive – even if the limited Welch had never faced any opponent of note while compiling a 16-0 record.
Riakporhe is also a model, a friend of Madonna’s and a fighter with a compelling backstory. The Midnight Train is rolling but he needs a proper test from a tough and skilful heavyweight.
Adam Azim then cruised to victory against Kurt Scoby – the stocky and muscular American who had been so mouthy throughout fight week. But he was utterly outclassed by the gifted Azim who won every round before he dropped and then stopped Scoby in the last minute of the fight to extend his record to 14-0 in the super-lightweight ranks. Next year should be a big one for Azim.
The final fight of the undercard between Jack Catterall and Ekow Essuman is underway …
Preamble
Well, here we go. Thirty-five years after their fathers first carved the Benn–Eubank rivalry into British sporting lore, the sons return tonight to close the book. Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn meet again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a rematch pregnant with history, heavy with pride, and somehow even more intriguing the second time around. The first chapter in April was so absorbing that this return was probably inevitable. The only surprise is how composed both men have been in the week leading into it.
The weigh-in on Friday at York Hall – so often a final flare-up before hostilities – elapsed without theatrics. Both fighters cruised under the 160lb middleweight limit, Eubank Jr at 159.1lb and Benn a couple of ounces heavier. No fines, no late-night sauna dashes, none of the confusion that left Eubank paying hundreds of thousands in overage penalties seven months ago. Benn famously spent that fee on a Rolls-Royce. This time, Eubank arrived lean, calm and insistent he wouldn’t be handing over a penny.
The fathers, who nearly stole the show at Thursday’s press conference with their still-combustible chemistry, stayed away from the scales. Their brief reunion – part antipathy, part nostalgia – reminded everyone just how long this rivalry has been fermenting. But tonight is not about them. It’s about the sons, whose own feud has delivered cancelled fights, a failed drug test, a slapped egg and, at last, a bruising first contest that Eubank swept on all three cards. Even then, amid the elbows and the stubbornness, something softened between them. April ended with a handshake and a hint of respect.
Don’t be fooled. The respect only stretches so far. Eubank has spent the week promising a “fight of the decade contender”, pointing to the first bout as evidence that their styles can’t help but combust. Benn has bristled at the suggestion that he was too emotional in April and insists the adjustments are his to make. He won only a single round unanimously last time; that has been the focal point of Team Benn’s review. Higher tempo. Smarter entrances. A more measured chase of the right hand. More work to the body. Anything to prevent Eubank from settling into the cultured, economical rhythm that carried him through their first encounter.
There are tactical subplots everywhere. The rehydration clause – a maximum of 10lb gained by Saturday morning – remains contentious, particularly given Eubank’s confession he ended up in hospital with dehydration after the last fight. Benn, now campaigning two divisions above his natural weight, argues the clause is essential for safety. Eubank shrugs it off and insists he simply misjudged his cut last time. Still, every seasoned observer will be watching closely for early signs of heaviness in the legs or delayed reactions.
The addition of Brian “BoMac” McIntyre in Eubank’s corner – head trainer of Terence Crawford – adds another layer. Benn counters with youthful momentum and the belief he can force errors if he keeps the pace feverishly high.
All of which leaves us here: a good fight the first time, maybe an even better one tonight. The main event ringwalks should go off around 10pm local time. We’ll keep you updated between now and then.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Donald McRae’s take on tonight’s big fight.
