5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Eubank Jr v Benn 2: Welcome to Fight Week

Episode Date: November 10, 2025

Repeat or revenge? Barry Jones joins Buncey as fight week begins for the long-awaited rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. They revisit the first fight, and ask what’s changed this time around. Plus, they hear from both fighters and promoter Eddie Hearn.

This is Five Live Boxing. It's Monday a big fight week. Chris Eubank Jr., Connor Ben, too, the rematch. In the family terms, it's the full fight between the Ben and Eubank Clan. It's going to be live on Five Live from 10pm on Saturday night. Special doesn't quite cover it. I'm Steve Bunce, and this is Five Live Boxing. Now there's one emce who screams, the fight starts here.

There's another emcee. probably know him, who says, let's get rid of at Rumble. And there's yet another MC who says it's Showtime. Well, I'm not an MC. You know, I'm not an MC. So it's me and it's Barry and it's fight week. Big fight week. The rematch. This Saturday, a Tottenham Hotspur Sports Ground or stadium, whatever it's called. I'm an Arsenal fan, so it's tricky for me to describe it, really. It's going to be Connor Ben, Chris Eubank, Jr., too. Barry, before we move on, We've got to reflect a little bit on that night. Now, I know last week we sat down in a little studio and we watched a fight.

That's going to be tomorrow's pod. But just give me a, without giving too much away of what we talked about and what we saw, just try and take us back if you can. Just 30, 40 seconds, painting the picture of that night in April, 67,000 people. First of all, if the fight starts no. Is it? The fight starts now. I have to get that.

I can read it. What did I say? The week starts now. The fight starts here. Oh, does it? Maybe he should say the week the fight starts here. I am an emcee. You have emcee, though, in the past.

There's not, no, I was with Darren Baggin the day, and we're talking about it's not a job. You're a floor manager in Gibraltar. Do you remember for the deal of white fight? I've been a floor manager. I've done a day on the bins. Yeah. I've been a window cleaner. I've been a electrician as well.

I haven't been electricity. Caretaker. You know what, lucky it's not a big fight this weekend, so we can talk about our personal. careers. Let's get back to the fire. I'm talking about just in case anyone needs any of these jobs doing. I'm your man. Do you still get calls on an own mobile? Are saying that you're available to rewire a living room or something? I think of the telegrams asking me if you can go. Telegrams.

Think someone's drive week. Well, let's crack on, but the first fight was incredible. It was sensational. Five or six of the rounds. I'm not going to give too much away, but we watched it back last week. And I've got to tell you, we were both stunned at how good it was. We were genuinely stunned. And there were five or six rounds that in any given year would win round of the year.

That was there. Now we're moving forward. It's very rare. And I don't say this as a criticism. Very rare to say that a fight that really had no real bearing on the world's rankings. Yes, of course. None of those are getting a world title. The Agu Kona Ben could have got a WBC weldably title shot.

But this was a middleweight. So it didn't affect anyone in the world rankings for middleweight. That fight, I don't think. So what would they fight? In my opinion. What are they fighting for? Fighting for money and pride. Family pride.

But I mean, what I'm saying is, for that fight, it could have been Fight of the Year. Yes. I mean, it was up there.

And usually a fight, when it's a fight of the year, it's usually a World Title Fight. It's got some relevance. But it's always a World Title Fight. It's always a World Title Fight. That's a fight of the year. It's never, ever, and but for that,

it was such a great fight. It really was. And I didn't expect it, because I thought it was going to be an interesting fight. That was one-sided. That's the truth. I don't mind it.

I got it wrong. Totally wrong. I thought you're going to dominate it from start to finish. I didn't, I knew it was going to be a packed out stadium, but I thought it was going to be too many casual fans to make it a great atmosphere. Do you know what I mean by that?

They don't know what they're looking at. They don't know about they're watching. But they got sucked in early. By the end of the second and third round, standard ovations at the end of the eighth, the ninth, the 10th, the 11th and the 12. That was a sort of fight that wins new fans into boxing. That drags people in because you just go,

if every fight's like this, by the way, it's not. If every fight's like this, I'm going to every show, every boxing show I ever see. Yeah, absolutely. Now, we are going to hear from both boxers and Eddie Hearn, one of the promoters. In fact, it was one of the promoters. Deren, it's going to be one of the promoters this weekend.

Just a couple of facts and figures. At the end of 12 rounds, unbelievable rounds, all three judges were in agreement. They gave it eight rounds to four in Chris Eubank, Jr.'s favor. Nobody complained about that. There were compliments galore after the fight from the fathers, from the sons, each other, paid to their fathers. It was a mutual loving and understandably so. Both fighters

have had a birthday since. Connor Ben is now 29, 24 fights, 23 wins, a one defeat. Chris Eubank is now 36, 38 fights, 35 wins, three defeats. In fact, his debut is in 2011 and he's now been a professional boxer. You love this stat. I don't mess around, Bell, when you give me a good night's kip, right, I can come up with some absolute beauties. He's now been a professional longer and his father. Longer than his father. Yeah. I'll be honest.

It's a weird thing because it's different times now, isn't it? Of course. His father had 52 fights. He was in the weekend. He retired the 25th. Like I did.

I mean, you're not very quickly. That's mad when you look at Colin Jones. I mean, I know it's a bit of a digression, but what he did. What he did and he was out of the game of 25.

But then I'm not going to, I am going to digress. But he box, he boxed in the McCrory within five months of each other. Do you know what? Twelve rounders in America. Everything was quicker there.

Yeah. you were out quicker. Yes. But so longevity now is because the way people train and live their lives and understand diets and all the rest of it, it's a bigger thing. But still, that's a hell of a career.

But for the money he's earned, the success he's had, and the lack of success or lack of ambition to be successful, I would say that. I mean, lack of ambition to want to be a genuine world champion. That's what it seemed on the outside. He's chased the money.

And ashamedly. Your motivation is, whatever your end goal is. And it clearly is. about the money. Let's find that because look at the performance he puts up. They get that money. Barry, another reason why Barry Jones is here, the reason why he's here so often

it, for a start, he doesn't wear socks and he's part of his own set up and the people from Desone love it when we have him on and we love having him on, trust me. But the other reason is that if you consider the fight in April to be the third fight between the UBank and Ben Clan, Barry was on

the undercar that a theatre of dreams for the second fight, for the rematch between the fathers. Barry was on the undercard. There's only about five fights. Barry was on the undercard. And he's got this famous moment when the two boxes go past you, if I'm not mistaken. After the fight. After the fight. I mean, just tell the story. You're allowed to tell the story again, Bell? So I, if I remember, um, if I remember, I haven't, I haven't told the story for five minutes. If I remember, I flick my hair to one side. I still had it at the time. Oh, what days they were. And then I was taller.

I think, if I remember. No, you weren't. Nigel Ben had Alex Ferguson's office as his dressing room. That's right, yeah. And Eubank, I think, had half of the away dressing room. And they walk, and I'm in the car, they'll just grab my bag to go home. And they walk, and one come up in the one room,

one come up the other. And they had to walk past each other. And I've gone against the wall thinking, oh, it's going to kick off, and they hate each other. And I swear, they looked at each other and just grinned. Didn't say anything before the fight? This is after the fight.

Half of the fight. After that draw, the disputed draw. No, remember, no, Jobein, walks out the ring and disgust, doesn't he? Doesn't do any of you? Yeah. And the builders of that fight, how much hatred was and all the rest of it?

And they just grinned each other. And that's the first time I realized, even though they generally didn't like each other. I believe that. But the ability to sell was relevant, it was really prevalent to me, sorry. And to earn. They just cleared over a million pound each.

Back in 93, by the way. When a million pounds was mega money. Yeah. I mean, and they might mean more than that. That's what I was told. Yeah, no, yeah. And I just thought, this is show business. I mean, it's still real fights, but this is show business.

And they, they knew that. They were showmen. I mean, when I look back, they were brilliant for British boxing. I mean, you couldn't have asked for two better, like, like night and day. I always tell the story that the first fight in November 1990, so we'll be digressing here. We should be talking about Saturday's fight, but we're not.

We've got to go. But in all times ever, isn't it? The whole wave of the story. Of course it does. I think it's absolutely essential. And also, I would like it because I'm the only broadcaster or journalist. Yes. The first fight, the second fight and the third fight.

How many times I've been telling everybody, people I work before and with say, listen, Steve Burns is the only one I know who still work in the day who was at both fights. The people think I was. But working at both fights. And that's the key. Because there's one or two people have put themselves up in the crowd. Well, I could. I've run it at the first.

I watched it on TV. I probably watched it through a chip shop window or some mad thing like that like I did, most of my fights. No, I watched that one on a ferry Coming back from Ireland I watched Ben and Watson Through the window of the chip shop On the Sunday afternoon Yeah, so he was unbelievable

It was raining in Cardiff We also was riding in Cardiff But either way Yeah so I tell him all the time He was like if you want to speak to somebody About the whole history I boxed on the end the car To pay me more money

But Steve was in every fight So he can give it the context And that first fight is a fight When I say that boxing British boxing went from being black and white with three ropes and just a bit stayed. I mean black and white in every way, to suddenly be in this mad, colourful event-style driven boxing.

And then from there, we've got to where we are now. With the narrative for the first time. Absolutely. So Barry, let's look at this fight. Tony Sims, obviously, is still with Connor Ben. Tony Sims has talked about he made a lot of mistakes last time, Buncey. He won't make them this time. He was too emotional, and I would agree with that,

even though it was a great fight. Chris Eubank Jr. has gone back to using BOMAC, who we're calling Brian McEntire, who's obviously with Terrence Crawford, and he used Brian McEntire or Bowe, we're calling BOMAC for the purposes of this pod. Beaumac came into camp before the rematch with Liam Smith.

So he's got form of becoming in and being a mastermind in a better rematch, because Chris Eubank, Jr. might in theory need that going into... Jonathan Banks has been ours, and we assume Ronnie Davis is still part of the team. that may be an assumption. So, Barry, here we are six months on. We're going to hear from both boxes in a moment. What's your gut feeling going into, I mean, it's the start of the week,

so we've not seen them training yet. We've not seen them opposite each other. We've not seen how they look or react to each other. I did speak to the period, and when they were face-to-face about four or five weeks ago, that's what we're going to hear in a moment. What's your gut reaction going into the week? What feelings, gut feelings have you got?

You bank won The first one Yes And no one doubts that by the way No And maybe could have been Could have won wider Possibly if he would have done

A few things different So he'd be going And thinking I can do a lot better here But also he'll realize How attritional that fight was So A man who's now done Seven 12 rounders

Yeah He's gone the distance seven times Now's a lot of 12 rounders Barry He's not going to get any better That's for sure Or younger. Or younger.

Yeah. But so you'll know how hard he's going to have to train for this. So it's a mental thing for him to get up. I mean, you get up for the fight for fear of losing. But I mean, still, to go through hard camps takes it out to you. It destroys your soul at times because you just say, oh, not again. Another one. And you've got four weeks left.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I've got. But I mean, I'm making the weight correctly. That's going to, I mean, he can make the weight. It's how you make the weight. Weight's not, not become. a big factor in this one. I think people have realized

that he'd made the 159-16 that he had to make for the first fight. He'd been making that regular basis. Some people got a bit... It's still hard for him. It's still hard for him. It's going to be important to just... He needs that energy in those middle rounds. When Ben came back into it, he needs... He haven't going to do lots, but he's got

to be reminded to keep that concentration, which means you've got to be super fit to do it just to keep Ben on the end of that jab. Can't slow down. in those quiet moments when it looks like when Ben's getting a second win you've got to try and just make Ben work way too hard I had the first

I know we're going to talk about that that would be on the pod tomorrow but I had it 3-3 after six it's no great secret but we're here from the boxes in a moment but let's let's hear from Eddie Hearn because that fight back in April as Eddie says

we'll live long in the memory I mean the whole event you know of course the narrative was was so glaring wasn't it you know, like you said, Ben Eubank 3, the press conference, the infamous egg, you know, so much. And obviously, Eubank Senior as well, arriving on the night, which was just gold, really.

And the fight itself, I mean, ultimately, we can have a great buildup. I can sell the fire. But if we don't get the product on the night, it is what it is. But we got more than a product. We got a fight for the ages. We got a fight. You know, and my differences with Eubank, Jr., but I really respect what both men did that night.

They went into the well. and they went to the depths. I mean, both guys ended up eventually in hospital. You know, Eubank was there for a few days after the fire. It was an incredibly physically taxing fire. And there was a worry that they might not do it again. They've chose to. And I think we're not only going to get Eubank Ben 4,

we're going to get the 13th round of the first fight because, you know, Connor says, maybe I shouldn't fight off as much emotion is that. Mate, you're a bent. Yeah, you fight off emotion. That's what makes you to fight a you are. Absolutely. So I expect nothing different.

Now, Ed, they both said afterwards in slightly different words, but yeah, Zach's same thing. I went to places I've never been to before. They both said about the other one. I didn't know he could push me that far. Watching at ringside from about eight or nine or ten, I was getting slightly worried for the two of them because even though they'd been 12 once

and Eubank had been 12 a few times, I knew they were going somewhere that was ridiculous, where they'd never been before. It was so hard. And those last three rounds, they were quite incredible. Yeah. And, you know, I feel like actually it was the champion championship rounds that gave you bank the win.

You know, after nine or ten, I had it very close. And he definitely won 11 and 12. The size did show. I think there's no doubt, you know, I mean, you know, Ubank played a blinder in the buildup where it was like the narrative of, you know, I'm the victim here. I mean, he's made middleweight six or seven times.

He's never chose to film it before, but chose to film it this time to show everybody how tough it was to make the weight. And a lot of people bought into it. You know, it's like, this is a disgrace. It's like, He's making championship weight. I don't know what to tell you. But when you got in the ring,

you know, everybody could see the size difference in there. And it did play in the end. I'm okay with that size difference because Connor now has had that fight at 160. The inactivity is no longer there that plagued him going into that first fight. And I think he would have learned a lot. And like I said, it was physically taxing that first fight.

And that would generally suit the younger man with less miles on the clock, which of course is Connor Ben. Now, how soon after that fight did you get some quality time with Connor. I mean, sitting down with him, maybe with his father, maybe in the office or maybe at his house or in the gym with Tony.

And can you remember what that conversation was like? Yeah, it was a weird one because in the changing room after, everyone was so proud of him. You know, it's the first time he's taking so much stick over the last few years. But all of a sudden, you look at the, you know, the internet saying you're a hero. You know, you're a people's champ,

keep your head up. And that's really nice. I mean, especially with everything that he's gone through. But in the changing room, there was a real feeling. everyone was so proud, but he was, you know, I mean,

he was pleased with our DP Doug, but he lost. And that's the end result. And that's unacceptable to a winner. So, you know, even back then, he was like,

look, I know you think I've done well, but I lost the fight. It's like, I know, but, you know, we've got the rematch,

you'll be better next time. And I think his time went on, the reaction from the British public really lifted him in defeat. Now, Ed, I want to do, I'm not working for much longer, I want to deal a little,

bit with the rehydration clause, all the stuff that made all the headlines last time. And as you said, Eubank had all was made the way, are we operating under the same rules or regulations or whatever you want to call them? Same as the first fight. I mean, that was always the way. And, you know, look, there's no doubt that Eubank at Middleway is tight. I mean, he's been there for the last seven fights or six fights. That's his weight class. Yeah. It's tough for a lot of people to make weight. The rehydration is no problem. Last time he weighed in with all his clothes on and a big jacket, and he was a pound under. He would have been three pound under,

and that's not a problem. But he will be tight middleweight. But also, it's a massive physical disadvantage for Connor Ben going up to 160. You've only got a look in the ring to see it. So, you know, I think we've got it right. I mean, we proved that in the first fight by how good the fight was.

And, Ed, let's get the first question out there again. Before we get into the debate about Willie Won't he, will Chris Eubank senior be at this one? Or will you have to do mad 24 hours and negotiating and planning and skull duggery like you had to do the last time to get him into the arena in the ring. Turkey-Eless Shake was hell-bent on making sure he was there last time. And I remember Eubank Senior coming out of the car and I watched it on the big screen and the stadium went nuts. And I just looked at Turkey.

He was sitting next to me and he just gave me a little wink. You know, I thought, wow, you really did it. You know, you found a way. I don't know how, but you found a way. And it was great for the event. And by the way, even personally for Eubank, in the family, he should have be there. You know, it was a massive moment.

And, of course, you know, he won. So I'm sure his dad was very proud of him. Eddie Hearn there. And as we'll see tomorrow, Barry, Eddie Hearn, as you and I watched last week, and as we'll hear tomorrow, Eddie's up throwing punches, living every second of that fight with Conner Ben. But didn't claim at the end that Conner Ben had won.

No one really claimed that. But I want to take you, let's stick with Conner Ben, okay, because Tony Sims said to me, and I know I've already mentioned this, he said to me that he was too emotionally involved. Well, I would argue they were both emotionally involved. What can Connor Ben do?

What can Tony Sims and Connor Ben do? John Ryder in the rings and Nigel Ben in the wings. What can they do to change the way he fights and get them the victory? I think to say he's too emotionally involved is... I don't have said anybody. It's a mad statement because he's an emotional person. I mean, you've met a fight. That's his drive.

The emotion, yeah. He can't switch. So that's who he is. I think that's, so that, that's, you have to just to cope with that and work around that. Yeah. I think there's a lot of things you can do better, but I'm not sure. I mean, a lot of things that can be done better. I'm not sure if he can do them better, though.

That's a good line. What, what he can do within himself, his ability. I mean, the jab needs to be, he needs to use that jab to get. So he came from A to B. Because the jab worked when he threw it. I mean, when he, I mean, he doesn't need the jab so much if he can keep that speed and acceleration of pace for 12 rounds. Because he has that speed.

when he comes in low, he needs to come in a little bit lower, I would say. You can't get low enough. I say that all the time. Can't get low enough with a fighter who likes to punch tall

off a snappy jab. But then you accelerate. But you've got to use the big muscles in your legs and your backside and it takes a lot of energy. And then you explode into your shots, which what Ben does, when he does that at his best,

he's a hard man to stop because he'll swing into a shot and there'll be three punches and they're all with the same conviction, which is what his dad used to do. It's very rare the fighters could do that. The first punches had or the last punches had.

Very rarely the three punches had with him and his dad. Everyone is. Everyone is. Yeah. But it drains your tank. So you risk is risk and reward for that. So you go try and be able to maintain that longer or develop a better jab to close

the distance. That all faint more to try and lead out the jab of you bank. And then off, see, if he can work off the jab of you bank, that's his in. Tiny adjustments, Tony Sims talked about. Yeah. He knows he needs to make adjustments. But you've got to slow, to make, to make your, to make your timing better. you've got to make his timing worse.

That's where a faint works. Because if you faint, he throws that jab. It still might be fast and snappy, but it's not the tempo he wants. And he's got the ability to use the fact. Because sometimes when he's slightly out of distance, he's using his head movement.

He's showing people's shots. So if he can just get that jab, so he might have to take it. But if he can take it on the gloves rather than on the chin, then he can fire off it. Yeah. And then that's in.

Once he's in, he's going to explode with his combinations. Now getting close to the target, too close. He's no good for kind of Ben. Of course not. because he's a physically stronger guy, I think, who can tie you up.

So you want to be... We'll show, Barry, for interruption. Will Ben be... I know he had plenty of time to build into the weight he came in, you know, just under 160? Will Ben be... Because he's at another 60. Yeah, yeah.

So he'll be a little... He's seven, eight months older. He's going to be at that... He's at the weight for a long time now. Will he be stronger quite a other weight? I think so, because, but been in mind, that people forget, he's still coming down to that weight.

There's no bones about that, but not the same amount as Chris. People didn't quite understand it, did they? People thinking he's having to have a big meal to make the way. No, no, but he'd be able to train closer to his weight. That's important. And I genuinely think, though, there's a lot of things that can be done, whether he can do it or not. So I would say, when he does, if he can break that jab down or use that, use Eubank's jab as his entry to come in.

Yeah. He's not going to use his jab to come in like he should. Yeah. I don't think he never really does that. So let's put that to one side. If he uses Eubank's jab as his entry in, then he's, he's, Jabbs he works. He got to pivot to his right.

You got to get on the outside that left-down jab. He's pivoted. He's pivoted bunsy. No, but what I mean there, though, but that opens up, that left hook they like to throw. He can throw three left-tocks from almost from behind Eubank. Yeah.

And he can't, you back hand counter back. Yeah. And all you go, once you're upset at his rhythm, you're almost your boxing at your pace, but it's fast or slow, you're in control. The older man who's theoretically shot one

a little bit more than you are. Yeah, of course, yeah. Should start to start unraveling. I'd say what? All theory. Listen, no, listen. It's theory that is good theory based on experience. Now, I did speak to Connor Ben, and it's apparent.

I mean, it's clearly and really, really apparent that the loss is, well, basically, still haunting him. People go, are you done well, well done, well done, mate, you've done good. Yeah, no, no, no, don't do that, no, I don't hear that. You know, wherever, there's still a loss in front of it. Do I mean? So whatever it is, well, don't you don't, but you're loss. You've done amazing.

you know, the public were entertained, it was one hell of a fight, a year, fight a decade, I still lost. You know, so for me, I don't prepare hard for 12 weeks to have a, you done well, but not good enough. You prepared hard for 12 weeks, but did you really think it would be as hard as it was, those last two or three or four rounds? I didn't think the fight would go past three or four rounds, let alone see the end.

So, when I say that, I didn't mean it in saying it as a threat or saying it as I actually meant it. But not only did I mean it, I actually believed it. You know, so for me, I genuinely thought I'd knock him out of three, four rounds. And I think when I see I had him hurt, I got greedy and decided just trying to iron him out. Now, he said at the end that you were a great fighter

and he didn't know you could, you know, you could be as good as you were. Did you have the same feeling about him? Was he a better fighter than you expected? Do you know what, in a mad world, Although I've given up the weight, I underestimated him still. In terms of how awkward he is, how intelligent he is in the ring in terms of him using his,

he used his brain in there more than his physical ability. But I mean, he obviously used his way. He started leaning on me towards the later in the fight. Towards the later round, started leaning on me. Didn't let me get my mid-range, which is what he was supposed to do. And he'd done that. He started to the game plan better than myself. And were you aware, were you conscious of that at the time?

No, no. Because you were just wrapped up in the fight. No, I was so focused on just in, flippting pain. For the first time in my career, I never went back to the corner wondering whether I'd won a round. I weren't even thinking about winning the rounds.

It was just a fight. It was just in the fight. I weren't thinking of winning. I thought I had won the fight. Yeah. Based on how I felt, but I weren't in there trying to score points. Yeah, it was just about winning. It's just about fighting.

So if when you've sat down, assuming you've sat down with Tony Sims and watched it, what are you learning? What are the takeaways? You know, without giving away too much, Colin. What would the takeaways be? Discipline.

It's the only thing in there, really. Emotion. It's the controlling your emotion. That's the discipline. So when I say discipline, I mean, keeping your emotions at bay. And that was something I didn't manage to do on the night.

So that's a me problem. I wouldn't say it's come down to anything else apart from that. And that's something that you can change, in theory. Of course. You control what you can control. And that's well within something I can control myself. Now, this might sound like a ridiculous question, and if it is, tell me. But are there any parts of the night you can allow yourself to enjoy it?

I'm thinking about walking out here. Yeah, I enjoyed all that. Yeah, and I enjoyed all that. Because, you know what, every young fighter dreams of getting to a position where they can walk out to a packed stadium. Do you know what I mean? 67,000 people? Yeah, you sit there and you go,

you look around and you're going, yeah, we did that. That would do. Did that, yeah, that would do. I'm happy with that. And not only that, though, the fight delivered. Yeah. Because there's nothing worse than people talking a good game. When it comes down to it,

they ain't really about it. That's what I see with a lot of fighters. They talk a good talk. When it comes down to it, you know, they ain't really about it. And you, from the very first, minute in the very first round of two of you, it was obvious. I said I'd come out that way.

Yeah, and you did. I weren't, I weren't conscious, I weren't, I weren't, sorry, cautious, I weren't, let's have it then. And that was really how I felt. Like, cool, you want to fight, let's, let's have it then, let's, let's go. And that was my mindset going into the fight. I mean, the whole demeanor seems different now. It's just like you seem, I know you were focusing, you seem a little bit more focus,

maybe. You got to remember there was a lot of, it was a lot of, it was a whole, you know, There was a lot of tension. There was a lot of emotions. You got to remember it was my first fight back here in almost three years. Yeah, of course, yeah. There was a lot of pen-up aggression. There was a lot of hatred. There was a lot of bitterness. There was a lot of everything. It was a lot of demons I had to face myself that night, the week. I remember I've just been through Hellenback to come back and go straight into a... That sort of fight.

...with 30 months out of the ring, with winning my case, it was just a lot of guys. It was just a lot going on it was a noisy period of my life. Have you got rid of some of that hatred now? Or is he just maybe turned, you just turn them? To Chris? No, just in general. Oh, yeah, yeah. Because you're an angry man.

I mean, you know, you were an angry man. Well, no, you're smiling, but you're angry, yeah. Yeah, yeah, no, I'm definitely, yeah. I'm going to get, no, I'm going to go. No, no, no, no, no. There's no way I can't go low. I can't go high. I mean, it's the two clocks.

Jold always, I'm definitely calmer now. Yeah. Definitely, definitely calming now. I'm grateful. I'm grateful. I feel, I feel very differently this time around about the fight. Of course. I feel like I'm getting in there to do a job

rather than me targeting him personally. Do I like him? No. Do I respect him for giving me that level of fight? Do I respect him that we did this? Do I give him his flowers for... they're putting up one hell of a fight, yes, I do. Connor Ben, the one thing I want to pick up on, Barry, is the thing that's obvious,

and it's obvious from the fathers now. Do they like each other? No. Do they respect each other? The fathers? Probably. Do the sons respect each other? Definitely.

I'm just going to refer you to some of the things that Eubanks said at the end. Connor Ben is an extraordinary fighter. I didn't know he had it in him. I underestimated him. I can't believe he was the guy to bring me, to bring that out in me. So that's the type of stuff they were saying to each other at the end. I'm not surprised. I'm relieved to hear that there's that incredible mutual respect.

We hear from Eubank Jr. in a second. It's amazing. I mean, you'll never get it again. Where, you know, two fathers and two sons both dragged their respective. Across different centuries as well, by the way. That just sounds dramatic. It's like Game of Thrones. I've got to go to different millenniums.

But I mean, literally. Barry's come up. with one there. Go on my son. I don't know what the word Millennium means. Someone texted to me yesterday. I thought I'd use it.

But either way, I mean, they've all been dragged into a dark place by each family member. I mean, that's just unique. And they both ended up, we're going to hear, Eubanks talks about that in a moment, but they both did end up in hospital. And part of that, before we hear from

Eubank, I want to just ask you a question, Ubank has this knack, as did his father, even in the first fight with Ben, when he was the challenger and Ben was the world WBO middleweight champion and a good one at that and an exciting one, fresh from a brilliant win in Las Vegas. Somehow, Eubank the father were a few bits of gimmicky clothing and a Harley-Davidson, managed to control, as they say, the narrative.

Well, the sons managed to do the same thing. Straight after, he seemed to control things leading into the fight. And in the last week or so, 10 days, he's published some pictures of him in his ambulance, static ambulance. We've got to be careful what we say there because there might be some legal situations there. But he did post that haunting picture of him in hospital where he spent a couple of nights in hospital

being dehydrated with his face battered and bruised. Now people have been critical of that. I've got no problem with that. But it is Eubank once again controlling the storyline, controlling the narrative, controlling the buildup. You know what? Like psychological games are quite important. Oh, are they ever, my son

But also If you're a really confident person It shouldn't affect you But I think winding up You winding up Ben Like he was with the father and son Yes Like when Eubank senior and junior

Wined up their opponents Getting into their head Works for him Winding up the Ben The Benz is called him Yeah Ben Clare Doesn't work for you

I think they're worse When they're more angry Yeah I mean Because I think Nigel's always admitted that Yeah I think that they're

ferociousness, I think they control it in a weird way, don't they? Like, more than any of the other... So you think go in, shake hands, ask the amount of kids are? I think so, yeah. Remember Leonard against Hagglin? You did it quite often in fights.

You know, touch close to the end, oh, yeah, it's been good fight. Yeah. Like, oh, no chance. I love it that. And then, and then whack me with the right hand. I mean, you know, it's that sort of thing. I think you've got to, yeah,

killing me and kindness. Listen, killing with kindness. If you just two of a sudden, now this week and started saying, listen, like, Connor Ben, it's a brilliant fighter. I can be a better fighter than me. You're going to have a great career.

I respect him. I want to be a friend. You know, I live to be a godsend to his kid. And all of a sudden, you know, you've got the most beautiful white on the planet. I wish I had his life. It'd freak you most. Yeah, well, I'll tell you what, between now and Saturday's first bill, the fight will be live on five live, obviously.

Between now and the first bill, they'll come together three or four times. And both Barry and I will be. They will have pods all week. Tomorrow's pod, and I've said it already, is the watch along that Barry and I did last week. It's a, it's exceptional. even if I say so myself. And then we'll have pods on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

We've got live shows. It's going to be a massive week as befits the fight. Now, I also caught up with Eubank, and we started talking about why he had to go to hospital, which I've just mentioned, straight after the fight. Obviously, I had a cut. That had to get stitched up, but the main focus was the severe dehydration.

It caused swelling all around my face and around my body. You know, it stopped me from being able to fight. function for a day or two. They had to put a drip in me for, you know, 24, 48 hours of constant liquids going into my system. You know, the headache was unbearable. You know, I had morphine pumped into me at times and eventually my body started, you know, being able to function. Function and absorb the liquids. And, you know, after a day or two, I was out, up and at them again, you know. And during the fight itself, did you realize you were going to places you'd never been before?

Did you realize, you know, you've done 12 rounds, what, five times until that point? But not quite 12 rounds like that. I wouldn't say I haven't been to those places before. I've, you know, I've been in some hairy fights in my life. You have been some hairy fights. And I've been in hairy fights in the gyms too. You know, and those spas and those sessions people don't get to see. But they're just as tough.

So, you know, I always knew what I was capable of. The fans knew. But, you know, the fact that I had been restricted from what I was able to eat and drink after the way in, that, I guess, took its toll or I felt the effects of that during the fight, which caused me to, you know, maybe have, you know, maybe my legs weren't as strong as they usually were. And it caused me to have to drag this kid into a dog fight where it was just, I'm going to keep punching. until the referee stops me.

Nothing's going to stop me. And he willingly allowed himself to be dragged into that dog fight. His performance did it surprise you? He didn't willingly do anything. I forced him. You made him do it. I gave him no choice. You're either going to get into this dog fight with me

and we're going to dance together or you're going to quit. And he didn't quit. And I give him his respect for that because there are plenty of fighters that have been in way less of a painful or dangerous situation in boxing and they have quit. He didn't, so I gave him his credit and his respect. And the fact that you have two fighters with that mindset of, you know, you're not going to break me, you're not going to stop me from doing what I need to do.

That's what made that fight of the year contender. And that's what makes this rematch so exciting. People want to see these types of fights because they don't come around a lot in boxing, especially not with the type of story that we have too. Which is a unique story anyway, yeah. But with any story, this is a massive story. Yeah, to have the story and have the performance live up to the story. It doesn't happen.

And part of the story was your father. And with his appearance, you know, we heard it was arranged the day before. With his appearance on the night, how much of a lift did that give you, Chris? Or were you already in a different place, a different zone? I mean, yeah, when I'm in that ring, I'm not thinking about anybody. the task at hand. But I would be lying if I said that his presence there didn't give me that extra little percentage to do what needed to be done. Family is everything. My father has been a hero and an idol of mine since I was a kid. So obviously if he's there, it's going to have

some type of effect. So I'm very happy he came. I'm very happy he came. When did you know he was coming? because I spoke to you on the Thursday and you know you might be you might be a good actor but you said you wanted him there but you weren't sure he was going to be here when are you getting into? I hope I'm a good actor because I've been I've actually been doing

some scenes for the new gentleman series on Netflix which is coming out but when it comes to this particular circumstance there was no acting I had no idea he was going to come to the fight up until the night before you know I'm getting ready to go to bed and you're getting a call and then

the phone call happens all right son I'm coming to the hotel. Like, wow, what is going on here? You can't write it. You can't make it up. You can't invent it. You can't make it up. But I'm happy it happened.

And so let's fast forward to this fight. November 15th, the ring is going to be pitched just behind where we're sitting here, 67,000 people in there. How different? I'm going to ask you how different you can be. How different can he be? I have no idea. You know, I didn't know he was capable of doing what he did in that ring on,

in that first fight in April, so I can't say I know what is capable of doing in the rematch. I just can't. But what I do know is my experience in rematches, my experience in fighting in general will give me the advantage. We both have that knowledge of 12 rounds with each other. So it's who's going to be able to use that information best in the preparation for the fight? Who's going to be able to capitalize on the information that was downloaded from those 12 rounds? and that will be me in my opinion. He's been there already,

U-Bank, obviously, having been stopped by Liam Smith, then stopping Liam Smith. Is that a factor, or is it just general wear and tear and experience? Yeah, not in this fight, it's not a factor, because this is such an emotional occasion for both, because it means more than just a fight. Correct. I think all that goes out of the window of the experience.

As we've seen in the first fight, experience didn't come for anything in the first fight. It was just so about emotional base, wasn't it? Yeah. And the world, yeah, I think, yeah. Yeah, so I think it's the same, it's a similar fight. It might not be as good as the first one. Yeah. Like you've alluded to, but I think it's still...

It'll still be good. It's still going to be a good fight and a great atmosphere. And, you know, I wouldn't put a pass and do even better. I mean, I think... Wow, that's interesting. Yeah, I wouldn't. I think, I don't think that it's technically as good as their dad, see. Yeah.

That's why, that's my opinion. So I think with that, it becomes a better, a more enjoyable fight to watch. Let me take you to the night now. It's Saturday night. It's 10 o'clock, 10, 15, 67,000 people. an unusually balmy warm November night that part I might have invented everyone's sitting down

hopefully we haven't got the lookalikes again the imitators you remember those guys we had the Ed Sheeran Chief Guitar David Beckham and Andy Hopkins and Osden and some other guy who we didn't know where it was there was another guy

we couldn't work out wherever it was shaggy from Scooby don't remember we still don't know who he is anyway so that's not over here or there Barry you're sitting down you're taking deep breaths because we both do the same before a big fight

because of the atmosphere is there. How does it start the fight? And not necessarily how does it end, but well, actually, how does it end? Start an end. I think both will realize, and after the first one, let the other fighter chase the fight.

I mean, it's say that. Everyone should want to do that. But I think they'll know in this one's quite important. Especially for Eubank, if he's three rounds, four rounds ahead, forcing Ben to overextend, plays into your hands dramatically. and for Ben he wants to make Eubank

the older Eubank who's sure the great engine but still you make him work hard It has to be a time when he comes out of man You got to make a fight the fight at your pace Whether that's fast or slow You got to make a fight at your pace And for Ben it's high energy And you've got to keep turning in turn him

Turning him turning him You would tend to think With the wear and tear of Eubank And Ben now knowing what he can do in a hard fight For the first time He didn't know before And now he knows

Absolutely didn't And that he could do better even though he lost. I can't help but think and I go with my first assumption from the first fight that it's still Eubanks fight to lose and I still have fancy him

and I fancy him for the stoppage this time and the reason there was no signs of that in the first fight by the way so I'm going on a limb here I just think Ben's going to try even harder and that leaves him more vulnerable and with that effort it leaves him more vulnerable yeah

And I don't think that even though he's been fantastic in his career, I don't think he's really had that technical grounding to really know what he's not to do when he's in massive trouble except for fighters way out of trouble. Which he did several times in the first fight. By the way, his dad did dozens of times. His dad made a career out of that. All his dad's best wins are arguably doing that.

Get hurt, come back. Get a drop, get hurt, come back. But I think it might just be his undoing the fact that his bravery and will to win and want to push the fight, knowing he has to fight the higher pace, might just get him in trouble. But what do you think, Steve?

A very, very similar fight in every which way, shape and form, rounds that astound us. I just think it'll be a little bit tighter this time, and I just think Conor Ben might just be able to nick it. I don't think there'll be major adjustments from either of them. I think it's a very similar fight. I think it's a bit like the, I hate to say this, but the first fight was like the dad's first fight.

It was reckless. It was awe-inspiring. And it was just, they were both at a standstill when it was stopped in that fight. And in that particular occasion, New Bank won. In the rematch, it was still the intensity, but it wasn't the first fight. But it was still a great fight. It was just it was being measured against ridiculousness. This one will be the same.

I think it will be really hard, really close, really tight. I've just got a sneaking feeling that Ben can nick it. Just can nick it. Barry Jones, it's been a delight and a pleasure having you on to launch the week. You're back with me tomorrow and no doubt you'll be with me towards the end of the week, depending if we can match the fees that you get from all of the, we're still paying one of your Swiss accounts, not the one, we don't use the one in the Cayman Islands. Because someone said, someone called me the Welsh Canello.

And I don't boss nothing like him. They were no, payday, pay day. It's true. And you've also got 728 pairs of shoes and 15. 15 horses. Barry Jones, in great form wearing his socks. Those of you that are on Sock watch will note. So that's the start of the week. We're back tomorrow with the watch along. Then we've got something on Wednesday, something on Thursday, something on Friday. Then we'll have the fight live on 5 live. This week, this year already, we've had 90-odd thousand watching Alexander

Usick and Daniel Dubois outdoors, then a few miles over to the east at Tottenham. We had 67,000 and April, we'll have 67,000 on Saturday. We've had about 15, 20,000 sellouts watching fights all over the place. Oh, what a year it's been for British boxing. And still some people tell me, oh, you know what, it's not quite the same. No, it's not quite the same. It's even bigger. I'm Steve Bunce, and this has been a very special five live boxing to launch a very special week.

Five Live Sports. The Rugby Union Autumn International. Rugby Union's elite clash in a bid to close out the year in style. Oh, what a try! Keep up to date with all the insight and analysis with the Rugby Union weekly podcast. The Rugby Union Autumn Internationals. It doesn't stop. Listen with the BBC Sounds app.