Victorious Chris Eubank Jr lavishes praise on 'underestimated' Conor Benn

Chris Eubank Jr lavished praise upon Conor Benn after securing a legacy and potentially career-defining victory over his long-term adversary on Saturday night.

The former IBO middleweight champion of the world overcame a dramatic weight cut, and subsequent rehydration clause, to edge a boxing thriller at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to secure arguably the biggest victory of his professional career.

Speaking to Sky Sports following his unanimous decision success, the BOXXER star revealed that he underestimated both the quality and heart of his opponent in the build-up to the showdown.

"First of all, I thank the one above, but I knew I had this in me - I knew I could deliver something big on this stage in this fight.

I needed somebody to bring it out of me. I won't lie, I didn't expect it to be him (Conor Benn) who would go on to bring it out of me.

"Everything he did and showed surprised me - I genuinely didn't believe he had what he had in him.

"I thought I would break him early, and, to be honest, I didn't train for a fight like that - he's never shown that before, but he had to show that tonight, and so did I."

The 36-year-old also expressed his gratitude to his father, Chris Eubank Sr, for seemingly burying his long-term hatchet to stand side-by-side his son for one of the most momentous occasions of his life.

"I pushed through - there are a lot of things that have gone on in my life, which I won't go on about now, but I am so happy to have this guy (Chris Eubank Sr) back with me now," he added.

"Having him here gave me a huge lift and was one of those things that was, special. He needed to be here and this, tonight, is because of what he and Nigel did."

Mark Mothershaw

• Matchroom
• BOXXER
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