Chris Eubank Jr has admitted he 'went through hell and back' before his unanimous decision loss to Conor Benn on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 36-year-old looked a shadow of his former self, unable to handle Benn's speed and ferocity, and was knocked down twice in the final round.
Speaking after the fight, Eubank Jr said: 'I've been through hell and back to make it here. I genuinely thought that regardless of the issues that I have been dealing with, I would be able to go in there and win... From that first round, I realised that I was mistaken.' He congratulated Benn on a 'hell of a fight' and a 'great performance'.
Speculation over his flat display has centred on weight issues. Eubank Jr, who has fought mostly at middleweight, was restricted by a rehydration clause preventing him from gaining more than 10lbs on fight day. Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson said he was 'clearly weight drained', and Oscar De La Hoya commented: 'Eubank never had a chance due to weight drain.'
Pundits have called for Eubank Jr to retire. DAZN's Barry Jones said: 'It was evident from round one that he was flat. It could be weight or it could be wear and tear, I think it's the latter.' Carl Frampton added: 'This might be the time to call it a day for Chris.' Tony Bellew described the fight as 'as convincing and one-sided a win as you'll ever see in boxing'.
Eubank Jr has not ruled out retirement, but his future remains uncertain after a defeat that raised serious questions about his condition and career longevity.
