Conor Benn exacted his revenge over Chris Eubank Jr to finally notch a win for the Benn clan at the fourth time of asking.
A patient and disciplined Benn proved too quick and too dexterous for Eubank Jr, who never got out of second gear.
In the twelfth and final round, Benn came within a whisker of scoring a stoppage after decking his rival twice, but Eubank Jr was saved by the bell.
In the end, the judges’ scorecards read 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108 to hand Benn the victory via a convincing unanimous decision.
It certainly wasn’t the epic that their inaugural encounter was, but it was a coming-of-age performance from Benn, who boxed beautifully on the front foot.
While his father Nigel wasn’t able to beat fierce rival Chris Eubank Sr in two barnstorming bouts during the 1990s – Eubank Sr winning the first inside the distance, followed by a controversial draw – Conor did what his dad couldn’t.
And he was quick to remind the British boxing legend of that when he got his time on the mic.
“How does it feel? I got one on you, Nige, hold that,” said Benn, grinning from ear to ear.
“I want to thank everyone who has come out. I feel like this is the end of the Benn-Eubank saga. Done, finished…
“Everyone said I can’t box, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
“Listen, this wouldn’t be what it was without Chris and our dads, most of all, this is generational.
“Credit to Chris, thank you for sharing the ring with me.”
Benn and Eubank Jr then embraced in the centre of the ring, with the veteran showing grace in defeat.
“I’ve been through hell and back,” said Eubank Jr.
“It is what it is. The kid fought hard; he fought tough.
“He has got power, I will give him that.”
Asked what is next, he added: “I have got to go away and deal with some of the things I’ve been dealing with over the last few months, but right now it is all about this man, it is his night.”
Story of the fight
Benn admitted he fought with too much emotion back in April, when he was outpointed by Eubank Jr the first time around and promised to fight with his head rather than his heart when they ran it back.
He fulfilled that pledge to perfection, holding his shape and picking his punches while applying intelligent pressure throughout.
In the first meeting, he was suspect of overreaching, and of following his man around the ring.
This time, he cut down the space and trapped his nemesis in the corners and against the ropes, working well behind the jab.
When he let his trademark overhand right go, it was set up behind feints and jabs.
Even when it came to the physicality, Benn, the naturally smaller man, appeared to have the upper hand.
He outmuscled Eubank Jr on the inside when he tried to clinch and smother ‘The Destroyer’s’ work.
And then in the 12th and final round, he decked Eubank Jr twice with two right hands to prove he carries his power up to 160lbs.
Shaky moments for Chris Eubank Jr in the final round
Eubank Jr was left flat on his face by the first clubbing blow, but miraculously made his way back to his feet.
Sensing his moment, Benn poured on the pressure as Eubank Jr staggered around the ring.
A right hand to the temple on the break sent him back down again, and when he met the count for a second time, Eubank Jr breathed a sigh of relief as the bell sounded, signalling the end of the contest.
