Boxing Rivals Eubank Jr and Benn Share Tense Reunion at Prestigious Awards Ceremony
The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension as Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn were brought together once again at the Ring Magazine Awards on Friday evening in New York. The bitter rivals, whose long-anticipated clash earlier this year had left a strained relationship in its wake, found themselves in an unmistakably awkward encounter at the prestigious ceremony.
An Uncomfortable Honour for Fight of the Year
Both fighters were in attendance after being nominated for the coveted Fight of the Year award. Later in the evening, it was announced that Eubank Jr and Benn had beaten off stiff competition from bouts including Beterbiev vs Bivol II, Inoue vs Cardenas, Mason vs Noakes, and Teraji vs Yuri Akui to claim the honour. With their names called, the pair were required to make their way to the stage together to collect the award and address the room—a scenario fraught with discomfort given their history.
A Room Full of Legends Witnesses the Tension
Throughout the evening, Eubank Jr and Benn had been seated directly across from one another at the exclusive 'legends' table positioned in the centre of the ballroom. This table was surrounded by some of boxing's most iconic figures, including Lennox Lewis, Bernard Hopkins, Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, and several other current and former world champions, which only added to the intense spotlight on the pair.
When the announcement was made, both fighters rose from their seats simultaneously. They briefly glanced at one another before choosing opposite routes around the table, walking in silence past the assembled legends before eventually converging at the foot of the stage.
Strained Speeches and a Wordless Handshake
Eubank Jr reached the stage first and stepped forward to the podium, while Benn stood several feet away, watching on with his arms folded as the room fell quiet. Eubank Jr said, '2025 was a big year for me. The highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. As did this man, ironically enough. What we did in April has earned us fight of the year but I think this particular fight will go down in history and be remembered forever. That is all that any fighter can every really dream to achieve during their career. I am humbled, grateful and proud. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the fight.'
After finishing his remarks, Eubank Jr stepped aside and the two men moved to swap positions. As they crossed paths, they stopped briefly to shake hands. The handshake was firm but wordless, with both men staring directly into each other's eyes before brushing past without exchanging a single comment.
Benn then approached the podium to deliver his own speech. He said, 'I just want to say a big thank you to everyone involved in making in the fight happen. It is a privilege to deliver entertainment for the public for fight of the year and a blessing to be here. A big thank you to everyone involved. Most of all, a big thank you to you Chris. This fight wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for you. It takes two to tango, and you brought that out of me. Credit to you. Thank you guys.'
Visible Distance in Official Photographs
Once both speeches had concluded, Eubank Jr and Benn were instructed to stand together for the official photographs. The pair posed side by side, facing the cameras but remaining visibly distant. As they waited for the pictures to be taken, Eubank Jr was seen thanking Benn for acknowledging him during his speech. Benn responded with a brief shrug, offering no verbal reply.
Moments later, the pair stepped down from the stage and returned to their seats at opposite sides of the table. They did not interact again for the remainder of the evening, each going about the rest of the ceremony separately as the event continued around them, underscoring the lingering animosity between the two boxing stars.
