Eddie Hearn’s “Hero” Narrative Can’t Mask the Reality of Conor Benn’s Defeat to Chris Eubank Jr.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was pouring on compliments for a seated Conor Benn, calling him a “Hero in Britain,” comparing him to his father, Nigel, after losing to Chris Eubank Jr. last Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The Real Picture?

Hearn didn’t say what kind of “hero” Benn is or how he’s going to keep his career afloat after he loses the rematch with Eubank Jr. He spoke of Conor winning world titles at 147 and 154 at the post-fight press conference, but he was short on details about who he would fight to capture those belts.

154-lb champions

– Bakhram Murtazaliev – IBF
– Sebastian Fundora – WBC and WBO
– Terence Crawford – WBA
– Yoenis Tellez – WBA interim

147-lb champions

– Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis – IBF and WBA
– Brian Norman Jr. – WBO
– Mario Barrios – WBC

Despite having two handicaps for weight and fighting an older fighter, Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) was badly outgunned and out-smarted by Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) in losing a 12-round unanimous decision by the scores 116-112 x 3.

After the fight, Hearn complained about the scores being too wide, telling the media that some people felt Benn had won or that it should have been a draw. However, when talking about a rematch, Hearn said he wasn’t sure if Conor should go into another grueling fight.

That kind of hinted that he doesn’t think he can win. If I were Benn’s promoter, I’d recognize that it’ll be just as bad for him in the rematch with Eubank Jr, but likely worse. Conor took a beating in the 11th and 12th last Saturday.

Eubank Jr’s inside game and nonstop high-volume punching were too much for Benn. In a rematch, the beating would likely start faster because Eubank Jr. would immediately take the fight to the inside and batter Benn, potentially knocking him out.

The “Hero” Speech

“Believe me when I say, you are a f***** hero in Britain,” said promoter Eddie Hearn, talking to a seated Conor Benn in a room full of media following his loss to Chris Eubank Jr. last Saturday night in London. “Not just because you went in there and had a good go and got chinned.

“Until the last bell, you did not stop trying to win the fight. You’re a f**** machine, mate. Nige [Benn], he might be better than you, mate,” said Hearn, continuing to go overboard with his ultra-glazing of Conor Benn, by saying he could be better than his legendary father, Nigel Benn.  “That was exactly the same thing. You in trouble, you just f**** bollocks.”

“We both lost,” said Conor, cutting in on Hearn’s exalting of him.