Revealed: The ‘rematch date’ for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn – as Saudi boxing chief lifts the lid on plans after thrilling grudge match

Chris Eubank Jr defeated Conor Benn by unanimous decision in a grudge match

Turki Al-Sheikh revealed plans are already in place for a rematch later this year

Plans are underway ahead of a potential rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn following their thrilling clash on Saturday.

The Eubank-Benn grudge match was settled – for the time being – when the former claimed a unanimous decision victory after 12-gruelling rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

t was a bout that ebbed and flowed, with Eubank Jr ending his opponent’s run of 23 wins three years on from when their rivalry first started.

And the rivalry is set to continue after Saudi Arabia chief Turki Al-Sheikh revealed there are plans for a rematch to take place later this year.

‘If they’re not injured and ready, we want the rematch in late September at Tottenham,’ he told Ring Magazine.

‘The British fans were amazing and I thank them.’

Talks are underway ahead of a potential rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn

Eubank Jr claimed a unanimous decision victory after 12-gruelling rounds on Saturday

Turki Al-Sheikh (right) says he wants a rematch to take place in September

Meanwhile, after suffering his first career defeat, Benn insisted he wants to take revenge on Eubank Jr

‘It’s a hard one to swallow. I didn’t come into the fight thinking it would be that close, I didn’t come in to lose or for anything apart from winning,’ Benn said. ‘I want my revenge.

‘I didn’t think I lost the fight, but I don’t want to be delusional and say I won the fight.’

The weight of the taller Eubank Jr was the main talking point pre-fight after he was slapped with a $500,000 (£375,000) fine for narrowly coming over the 160lb limit. Eubank Jr had revealed the extraordinary lengths he took to meet the target and his dehydrated appearance at the weigh-in led some to fear that the endeavour could cost him the bout.

It also added weight to the argument of his father, Chris Eubank Sr, who expressed concerns over his son’s safety.

However, Hearn has sensationally claimed Eubank Jr should come down in weight for the rematch.

‘I think maybe [Chris Eubank] Jr should come down a little bit lower rather than Conor Benn coming up two weight classes,’ he said during the post-fight press conference.

‘We knew Chris Eubank’s weight all week, right. I knew it at the check weight, the day after, we knew what he woke up at this morning and he was absolutely spot on.

Benn came up two weight classes for the bout, while Eubank Jr was forced to come down to the 160 pound limit

Eddie Hearn believes Eubank Jr should come down in weight for the rematch against Benn

Eddie Hearn believes Eubank Jr should come down in weight for the rematch against Benn

‘Yesterday he was tight at the weight. He’s always tight at the weight. He’s made it the last five times, he messed up, got there an hour late and could have made it comfortably but they just balls up, that’s it.

‘Apart from his dad, no one ever said “do you think it’s dangerous for Conor Benn to move up two weight classes to fight Chris Eubank?” You guys have to remember as well, this contract was not negotiated between Matchroom and Chris Eubank Jr.

‘This was negotiated by Ring Magazine and Eubank individually and we negotiated our contract individually. Chris Eubank, Ban Shalom, Mazhar [Majee], they accepted those terms.

‘That’s the art of a contract and the plan is to abide by those terms. So for me, the terms were spot on as you saw tonight. You saw a very evenly matched fight where a big 160-pounder nearly made his championship weight.

‘Conor weight around 165lb in the ring, Eubank was probably 176lb and Conor stood up to it. They served you up one of the greatest fights we’ve ever seen in this country.

‘But for me the danger was not for Chris Eubank Jr, the danger was for Conor Benn and that’s why we’ve got to think very carefully about the rematch because I don’t want to see him in too many fights like that.’