Eubank vs Benn: Boxing's longest family feud

It was supposed to be the biggest fight of the year. The two best in their division. But in the end, the world never got to see the family rematch of Eubank versus Benn.

The pair were supposed to settle a long-running rivalry in October 2022 in a super-welterweight clash, but the fight was prohibited in the week of the bout.

According to mirror.co.uk, promoter Eddie Hearn said Benn had returned an "adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug."

However, despite both camps being happy to proceed with the fight, The Boxing Board of Control decided to call the bout off a couple of days before it was supposed to take place.

The fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn was supposed to see the boxers settle a 30-year rivalry dating back to 1993, the last time their dads shared the ring at Old Trafford in a bloody affair.

With no fight between the pair coming close to fruition, here's a look back at the history of one of the most exciting matchups in the history of boxing.

Whilst it's their sons in the spotlight now, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn had two of the most electrifying fights in 1990 and 1993.

The fight between the pair in 1990 was billed as 'Who's Fooling Who?' – a headline to fight that perfectly represented how the fighters felt about each, with the pair calling each other frauds.

Eubank went into the fight with a flawless record of 24 wins and zero losses, while Benn had recently lost a match, but he had won 25 of his 28 fights by knockout.

The pair fought in Birmingham in November 1990, and no fan was left disappointed. Eubank was hit with an uppercut that caused a severe gash in his tongue, and Benn was left with one eye swelled up so bad from a Eubank haymaker that he could only see out of one of them.

The fight was electrifying for nine rounds, with both fighters exchanging blows. However, with five seconds left of round nine, Eubank's pressure took a toll on Benn, with the fight being stopped and Eubank retaining his flawless record.

After the victory for Eubank, according to talksport.com, the victorious fighter said, "He's the hardest puncher I've ever come up against in my life – the man is just an animal."

After the gruesome fight in 1990, the pair were unbeaten for three years, and both secured a world title at 168 lbs before an exciting rematch at Old Trafford in 1993.

Both men were the biggest stars in boxing, with 18 million viewers from the UK tuning in to watch the fight on ITV, and over 500 million people across the world tuned in to watch the rematch, according to talksport.com and mirror.co.uk.

A craftier Nigel Benn looked fitter than Eubank and looked as though he would edge the fight. However, numerous low blows from Benn got him a point knocked off.

The fight went the distance and ended in a split-decision draw. Benn's point deduction cost him a majority decision victory, which left the fighter distraught.

Talk of a third fight persisted for a long time, but it never prevailed. The pair later became friends after retirement.