Professional boxer Conor Benn has made a startling admission about his mental state ahead of his highly anticipated rematch against Chris Eubank Jr this Saturday. The fighter revealed that extensive therapy has completely transformed his mindset following their first encounter.
From bitterness to peace
During Wednesday's open workout at The Pelligon in Canary Wharf, Benn appeared remarkably composed as he discussed his journey from being a 'broken man' to finding inner peace. He was joined by his father, former world middleweight champion Nigel Benn, for some light-hearted shadow boxing that showcased their strong bond.
Benn told DAZN: 'Happy to be here. Do you know what, I was still healing. A strong mind can carry a weak body but a strong body can't carry a weak mind. It is all up here, it is all mental.'
The boxer elaborated on the dark emotions that consumed him before their initial bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which Eubank Jr won via unanimous decision. 'A lot of hatred, a lot of bitterness, a lot of spite, waking up in the morning, that is what would fuel me,' Benn confessed. 'I would wake up in the morning angry and go to bed angry. I don't feel that way now.'
The therapy transformation
When asked about the source of his newfound tranquility, Benn didn't hesitate to credit professional help. 'Therapy. A lot of therapy. A lot of help,' he stated candidly. 'I was a broken man, I was a broken working man, but my job, my priority, was to get back in the ring because that is the place where I found peace. It was just hard. It was hard mentally.'
His relaxed demeanour was evident throughout the workout session, where he waved to the public and posed for pictures with fellow boxer Derek Chisora before embracing his father. This marked a stark contrast to the animosity that had previously defined his approach to the rivalry.
Contrasting preparations
While Benn embraced openness and media interaction, Chris Eubank Jr took a different approach. The 36-year-old fighter declined a DAZN interview and snubbed Chisora's request for a picture after his own workout session.
Eubank Jr spent nearly 20 minutes on the canvas, ignoring PA system calls to conclude his workout, all under the watchful eye of Benn's cornerman, Tony Sims. Notably absent was Chris Eubank Sr, despite his talkSPORT interview about the fight the day before.
The contrast extended to social media, where Eubank Jr took to Instagram to accuse Benn of allegedly 'scamming fans' with an NFT pump and dump scheme, imploring followers to share their experiences.
As the Saturday rematch draws closer, the divergent approaches of both fighters - Benn's introspective peace versus Eubank Jr's combative social media presence - sets the stage for what promises to be another compelling encounter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
