A tense boxing rivalry took an unexpected turn when Chris Eubank Jr. cracked an egg on Conor Benn’s face during their heated face-off in Manchester. The dramatic moment, which led to security intervening, has only escalated the anticipation for their upcoming fight on April 26 at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A Rivalry Reignited
Eubank Jr. and Benn’s upcoming bout was initially scheduled for 2022, marking nearly 30 years since their fathers’ legendary clashes. However, the fight was canceled when Benn failed a drug test, testing positive for clomiphene, a fertility drug. Although the World Boxing Council (WBC) later cleared him, citing “highly-elevated consumption of eggs” as a reasonable explanation, the controversy left a lasting mark.
Egg Incident Sparks Chaos
During the press conference, tensions boiled over as both fighters exchanged verbal jabs. Eubank Jr. then reached into his pocket and smashed an egg across Benn’s face, leading to immediate intervention from security. Benn, visibly enraged and covered in egg, attempted to retaliate but was held back.
Eubank Jr. later addressed the incident on X, writing, “Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg.” He also shared a picture of Benn with egg dripping from his face, captioning it: “Eggcellent.”
Benn responded on X, dismissing the stunt: “That’s the only shot you’ll land on me. 2 rounds you are finished.”
Promoters at Odds
The egg-smashing incident didn’t just affect the fighters. Promoters Eddie Hearn and Ben Shalom also clashed on stage. Hearn, who represents Benn, said he initially thought a glass had been broken on his fighter’s face. He later questioned whether Shalom had prior knowledge of Eubank Jr.’s plan. “This is attack on sight stuff,” Hearn told reporters, warning that extra security measures would be necessary for their next meeting.
Fight Night Expectations
With emotions running high, their face-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday is expected to be just as intense. Given Benn’s fiery reaction, security will be on high alert to prevent further physical altercations before the official fight.
The egg incident has only fueled the anticipation for this long-awaited clash. Whether it was a mind game or an act of provocation, one thing is certain—this fight is personal.