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t is special, this. Special for this publication as the first Ring Magazine-branded event, but special too in terms of the chances of it ever occurring. The sons of a famous boxing
in a fight drawing nostalgia from the well. A well replete with blood thicker than water. The buildup to April 26 is mouthwatering. And so, so unusual. I can remember covering what we called “Ali vs. Frazier 4” when the daughters of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought in a tented arena in Verona, New York, with their fathers there in attendance in June 2001. It was a huge event at the time, pitting Laila Ali, a rare star in women’s boxing, against Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, an attorney who liked to put the gloves on. It was an all-action thriller. At the time, having attended the event, I wrote, “The bout, staged in an 8,000-seat marquee in Verona, lasted 16 minutes. Spurned by many boxing
purists and labeled ‘the battle of Dames with Names,’ it turned out to be a no- holds-barred scrap with Frazier-Lyde, then a 39-year-old Philadelphia lawyer and mother of three, taking the fight to 23-year-old Ali before losing on points [majority decision]. As Joe Frazier himself said after the fight, ‘There’s a lot of daddy in Jacqui.’ Muhammad Ali, also there, just smiled.” Genuinely it was thrilling to be there and be involved. My sense is that “Benn- Eubank 3” will create the same buzz. If that was American royalty and rivalry, then we now have the equivalent and history repeating itself in British boxing. We need to recall those events, which began in 1990 and garnered millions of viewers, between two of the most popular British fighters ever.
rivalry fighting each other is very, very rare, if not unheard of. And certainly so with such an outstanding and dark rivalry repeating itself. Let us be honest for a moment before we dive deep into what this contest is, will be, and what it represents. And indeed, what is on the line when the first bell tolls for Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26. The deepest truth we must admit, the baseline for this battle, is that the
collision of Benn and Eubank Jr. is a fight based on the blood spilled and reputation of their fathers. Two great fighters who left so much of themselves in the ring at a different time in the sport. A harsher time ... There will never be a greater truth than that. Obviously, the sons would never be here without their fathers, but moreover, this contest would not be happening had it not been for the deep, almost hateful warrior rivalry between their much-admired old men. In bare terms, it would be meaningless outside the auspices of a bankable promotion – some will even call it critically a “money grab” around a bloodline feud stretching back 35 years. Bloodline, bloodlust. In purist boxing terms, they are miles apart. And yet it is still so, so compelling. A fight that is big business. A fight that crosses over into the mainstream in British life. This event will bring together fans from multiple generations
There was no love lost after the first fight, in which Eubank took Benn’s WBO middleweight title, stopping him in the ninth round in 1990. Three years later in the return bout, in October 1993, many observers saw Benn as dominant, but the fight – a WBC/WBO super middleweight title unification bout in front of 42,000 fans at Old Trofford in Manchester – was controversially judged a split draw. That night was called “Judgement Day.” We are there again now in 2025. Back then, all those years ago, there was a genuine animosity between the two men, which led to a classic first encounter and a memorable rematch, both of which were laced with more enmity and hatred than any rivalry in British boxing history. Benn was admired as an old- school warrior who had served in the British Army in “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. He carried his heart on his sleeve, an emotional character. In the opposing corner, Eubank was very different: He
The event will be called “Fatal Fury: City of The Wolves,” as part of a collaboration between Ring Magazine and SNK Games. The game is scheduled for an April 24 release, with those who pre-order enjoying early access on April 21. Available on PlayStation, Steam and Xbox.
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