Is Eubank the superior fighter?

Cork’s Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan has shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, predicting that Eubank’s experience and skill will once again prove decisive. The Irish middleweight, who faced Eubank in 2015, believes his former opponent remains the superior fighter, though admitting that the fight’s rehydration clause could tilt the balance in Benn’s favor.

“I think the only saving grace for Benn in this fight is the rehydration clause… I think he (Eubank) is a superior fighter, a better boxer,” O’Sullivan said. Reflecting on their first bout, which Eubank won by unanimous decision, O’Sullivan suggested that Benn may have needed that earlier setback to mature, saying, “maybe Benn got a bit humbled.”

Watch Eubank vs. Benn 2 open workouts highlights.

Now 10 years removed from his clash with Eubank, O’Sullivan recalls the Brighton man’s struggles with the scales and believes that could resurface. “When myself and Eubank fought back in 2015 he struggled to make weight back then… it’s ten years on, so obviously he’s going to be struggling that bit more to make weight.” Still, O’Sullivan doubts Benn can win on ability alone, adding that “Benn doesn’t have anything on him, other than the fact that Eubank might fatigue with the rehydration clause.”

O’Sullivan also expressed empathy for Chris Eubank Sr., who has publicly voiced concern over the bout’s weight terms. “I get him… he’s had tragedies in his boxing career with the Michael Watson fight, he knows his boxing,” said O’Sullivan. The respect between the two runs deep - O’Sullivan revealed that he grew up idolizing the elder Eubank, calling him the reason he fell in love with the sport. “The first pro fight I attended was Steve Collins vs. Eubank back in 1995… that was the fight that got me dreaming of being a pro fighter.”

Three decades later, O’Sullivan remains a devoted fan of the Eubank family and expects history to repeat itself. Confident in his former rival’s ability, he predicts that Eubank will once again prevail - this time to go 2-0 over Benn.