Tony Bellew has accused Chris Eubank Jr of ignoring his trainer’s advice after his crushing defeat to Conor Benn in their rematch.
Benn dominated his old rival from the opening bell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
Eubank Jr had no answer to his rival’s sublime speed and stinging body shots, offering little resistance as Benn cruised to a unanimous decision victory with a strong case for him winning every single round of the fight.
Eubank Jr was reunited with trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre this contest. The American is one of boxing’s most respected trainers having worked alongside Terence Crawford throughout his rise to the summit of the sort.
Eubank Jr and ‘BoMac’ linked up for the latter’s rematch victory over Liam Smith in September 2023, but were unable to renew the partnership for the first Benn fight back in April.
‘BoMac’ was back in Eubank Jr’s corner on Saturday night but former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew believes the Brighton fighter repeatedly ignored his trainer ‘screaming instructions’ at him.
‘This version of Conor Benn will beat him 10 times out of 10,’ Bellew told DAZN.
‘He can’t deal with boxing someone who is quicker than him. And that’s the problem. He wasn’t listening to BoMac.
‘BoMac was screaming the right instructions for him to follow and he didn’t want to listen. He’s the most expensive man in the world and you’ve paid him just to give you a drink.
‘He didn’t listen to his advice. He was telling him to put the jab on him. Use the jab, create the distance. And he wasn’t listening. And he’s paid the price.
I will give him credit, he’s a brave boy. The two of them are absolute warriors.’
Eubank Jr suggested he was open to a trilogy fight after the dust had settled but Benn considers the war over.
Instead, he is now targeting WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios and some of the biggest names the US has to offer.
‘I fancy [Mario] Barrios for the WBC world title, Ryan Garcia, [Rolly] Romero, Devin Haney, all of them yanks can get it,’ Benn said. ‘Any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.’