Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn have been suspended from boxing after Saturday night’s showdown, which saw the ‘Destroyer’ secure a convincing unanimous decision victory. The long-time rivals went toe-to-toe once again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Benn looking to make up for the first loss of his professional career to Eubank Jr back in April.
He was ultimately able to do so in dominating fashion, picking apart his foe at leisure with a piston-like jab and superb movement, while Eubank Jr looked stuck in the mud for large parts of the encounter. The 29-year-old also had the chance to finish the fight in the 12th and final round, knocking down ‘Next Gen’ twice, although time wasn’t on his side. After the final bell, the judges’ scorecards read 119-107, 118-108 and 116-110 in Benn’s favour, with fight fans worldwide in agreement on the whole, albeit questioning the latter’s margin.
And while many boxing enthusiasts will be eager to see a trilogy between the two men, considering each has a win apiece to their name, they will have to wait a little while to do so. That’s because both have been temporarily suspended from boxing.
It’s standard procedure for fighters to receive a short suspension after a fight to protect their health and aid in recovery. While the suspensions regularly last around seven days, fighters can see longer periods between 30 and 60 days imposed on them, depending on how a fight plays out.
Meanwhile, boxers who suffer knockouts or TKOs in the squared circle can see even longer suspensions. The rule is highlighted in Section 5.8 of the British Boxing Board of Control’s Rules and Regulations, which reads: “Any contest (wheresoever it takes place) being stopped by the Referee (other than by reason of disqualification), or the retirement of a Boxer, or by a Boxer being counted out in a contest; then the licence of such Boxer shall be automatically suspended for a period of 28 or 45 clear days or more at the discretion of the Board’s Senior Medical Officer present at the tournament.
“At the completion of the period of suspension no Boxer shall return to the ring until he has been certified fit to box by a doctor who may be appointed by the Board or at their discretion by an Area Council. Written certificates of fitness to box again must be received at the Registered offices of the Company at least 24 hours prior to the Boxer’s next contest.”
It comes as Benn seemingly shut down any ideas of a third and final fight taking place in his post-fight interview. He said: “I want to thank everyone who’s come out tonight. It’s been some journey, and I feel like this is the end of the Benn Eubank saga. Done and finished, it’s over. I know Chris has twins coming, and I’ve got my boy, but this ends here.”
Eubank Jr, meanwhile, didn’t pour water on the premise of a decision third fight, though. He explained: “It’s 1-1, I’ve got to go away and deal with some of the things I’ve been dealing with over the past couple of months.
“And who knows? Maybe we’ll see something with me and him, maybe we won’t. But for right now, it’s all about this man – it’s his night. Congratulations.”