Defeat to Chris Eubank Jr ‘hard to swallow’ for Conor Benn

Conor Benn admitted “defeat is hard to swallow” and that he is seeking “revenge” after he was handed a unanimous decision defeat in his grudge match with Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Benn was handed the first defeat of his professional career with all three judges scoring a 116-112 decision in favour of Eubank Jr.

The pair, whose fathers fought twice in the 1990s, put on a spectacle in north London in what will be a fight of the year contender.

“It’s a hard one to swallow,” a teary-eyed Benn told a press conference.

“I didn’t come into the fight thinking it would be that close, I didn’t come into it to lose, I came in to win and I was not good enough and I need to do better.”

He continued: “I want the revenge, I want my revenge.

“I think inactivity played a big part, I think it took me back. I had Eubank hurt multiple times but I couldn’t get the finish and I’ll make sure for next time that the finish is there.”

Despite branding his son a “disgrace” for his February egg slap on Benn, Chris Eubank Sr was in his son’s corner as they settled a public falling out.

Victory for the 35-year-old means the Eubank name remains on top of the Benn’s after his father’s victory and draw against Nigel Benn in the 1990s.

“A lot, it was special,” Eubank Jr said about his father’s appearance being a boost. “He needed to be here, all of this is because of what he did and we did it again.

“I’m happy to have this man with me. I’ve upheld the family name like we said we were going to and so its onwards and upwards.

“The fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings out another soul and spirit and that’s what we both showed tonight.”

Eubank Jr did not attend his post-fight press conference after being sent to hospital for checks.

“Everything surprised me, I didn’t know he had what he had in him,” Eubank jr added on Benn.

“I thought I’d break him early, I underestimated him, I didn’t train for a fight like that, he’s never shown that, then again he’s never had to show it, he had to show it tonight and so did I.”