Riyadh Season Backs Out of Major Planned Fight

On April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn delivered an entertaining 12-round back-and-forth clash that secured its place in British boxing history. It was a thrilling spectacle, with Eubank Jr winning by unanimous decision (116-112 x3). Turki Alalshikh had recently announced Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 for September 20, but The Ring is now reporting, via sources, that Riyadh Season, Sela, and The Ring are no longer involved in the planned rematch.

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn – British Classic

Riyadh Season Pulls Out of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2

The buildup to the Eubank Jr. vs. Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) fight in April captivated the boxing world. The bout itself exceeded the expectations of many, with both men praised for their bravery. The cleaner work from Eubank in the middle rounds was the key to defeating Benn. Following the fight, attention quickly turned to a potential rematch and Eubank, when appearing on the The Diary of a CEO podcast, made it clear the rematch would likely happen later this year: “It’s very likely that fight will happen again at some point this year.”

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Benn has had his say on the rematch plans, appearing to be in tatters: “This rematch falling apart had nothing to do with me,” Benn told Ring Magazine. “I was ready to go on the scheduled September 20 date. I’m not sure what happened to Chris Eubank.”

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2: The Future for Both

The future looks bright for Benn after his impressive performance in April. He recently appeared on the Ariel Helwani show alongside Shakur Stevenson, where the two discussed a potential clash at 147 pounds.

There’s clear momentum building around Benn’s next move. A bout with the winner of Mario Barrios vs Manny Pacquiao appears a likely option. Alternatively, a showdown with the winner of the planned rematch between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker for the IBF welterweight title should be straightforward to make, with all fighters under the Matchroom banner.

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The path ahead for Eubank Jr (35-3, 25 KOs) appears less certain. Despite his win over Benn, a rematch still seems the most plausible option. He has regularly spoken of his desire to face Canelo Alvarez, but Hamzah Sheeraz is now seemingly at the front of that queue after his destruction of Edgar Berlanga on July 12. Can Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 proceed without the involvement of Riyadh Season.