Chris Eubank Jr is statistically one of the most elusive fighters in the world.
‘Next Gen’ returns to action on April 26 in a long-awaited grudge match with Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The pair were initially set to square off in October 2022.
However, the fight was cancelled after Benn tested positive for the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) clomifene in two pre-fight drug tests.
Benn was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP), allowing the bitter rivals to finally settle their score.
‘The Destroyer’ is moving up to middleweight (160lbs) for the fight while a 10lbs rehydration clause has been inserted into their contracts to level the playing field.
Eubank Jr is a natural middleweight, who has competed as high as super middleweight (168lbs) while Benn has spent the majority of his career at welterweight (147lbs).
But it isn’t just size Benn has to worry about, as landing a clean shot on Eubank Jr is a challenge in itself.
According to CompuBox punch stats, Eubank Jr absorbs the joint least amount of power punches in boxing with 4.2 per round.
The pugilist he shares pole position with is WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, who is widely considered to be the most defensively adept fighter in the sport today.
Eubank Jr also scores well on the least amount of total punches absorbed per round at 7.2.
Only Stevenson (5.4), Demetrius Andrade (6.2), Luis Ortiz (6.5), Jai Opetaia (6.8), Dmitry Bivol (6.8) and Jack Catterall (7.1) place higher.
Fewest opponent power punches landed per round
Chris Eubank Jr (4.2)
Shakur Stevenson (4.2)
Jack Catterall (4.5)
Dmitry Bivol (4.5)
Daniel Dubois (4.7)
Luis Ortiz (4.8)
Anthony Joshua (4.8)
Ryan Garcia (5.2)
Demetrius Andrade (5.2)
Tyson Fury (5.3)
Benn does not feature in the top 10 of either stat, but by comparison, he took an average of 12.1 total blows (8.75 power punches) per round during his last outing against Peter Dobson in February 2024.
Benn was able to take this fight, and another one in September 2023 against Rodolfo Orozco under a US license, after his suspension was briefly lifted in July 2023 by the NADP.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) had the suspension reinstated following a successful appeal in May 2024.
However, the NADP cleared him again in November 2024 after launching a second investigation.
This time, the BBBofC accepted the NADP ruling and the Board is now expected to re-issue Benn’s national license ahead of his upcoming clash in London.
Benn voluntarily forfeited his license in the fallout of his originally scheduled bout with Eubank Jr.
