Fight Week: Chris Eubank Jr., Conor Benn set for showdown; Sebastian Fundora in action
FIGHT WEEK
Junior middleweight contender Sebastian Fundora will face Carlos Ocampo on Saturday in Carson, California. Also Saturday, in London, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will carry on the rivalry of their famous fathers.
CHRIS EUBANK (32-2, 23 KOs) VS. CONOR BENN (21-0, 14 KOs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 8
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (7 p.m. BST)
Where: O2 Arena, London
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: 157 pounds (catchweight)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Eubank 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Felix Cash vs. Connor Coyle, middleweights; Galal Yafai vs. Gohan Rodriguez Garciam flyweights; Mary Romero vs. Ellie Scotney, junior featherweights
Prediction: Benn UD
Background: Eubank and Benn will pick up where their fathers — Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn — left off in the 1990s, when they engaged in a memorable two-fights series. The elder Benn stopped Eubank in 1990 and they drew in 1993. Their sons have carved out their own niches in the sport. Eubank lost arguably has lost his two biggest fights (decisions against Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves) but also has some quality victories but has won his last six fights, including an impressive unanimous decision over Liam Williams this past February. The 33-year-old from Brighton, England, a natural middleweight who had been fighting at super middleweight, which will give him a size advantage on Saturday. Benn has never weighed in at more than 148½ pounds. The 26-year-old from Essex, England, has a string of impressive victories over solid opponents the past few years, including Samuel Vargas (TKO 1), Adrian Granados (UD), Chris Algieri (KO 4) and Chris van Heerden (TKO 2). The van Heerden fight took place in April. He has the ability to compete with Eubank. The question is whether he has the size.
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA (19-0-1, 13 KOs) vs. CARLOS OCAMPO (34-1, 22 KOs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 8
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Junior middleweight (154-pound limit)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Carlos Adames vs. Juan Macias Montiel, middleweights; Fernando Martinez vs. Jerwin Ancajas, junior bantamweights (for Martinez’s IBF title); Egidijus Kavaliauskas vs. Mykal Fox, welterweights
Prediction: Fundora UD
Background: Fundora will try to maintain his momentum after his break-through ninth-round knockout of fellow contender Erickson Lubin in April, which proved that the 6-foot-5 154-pounder is more than just a physical freak and made him the No. 1 contender for Jermell Charlo’s WBC title. The 24-year-old from Southern California got up from a knockdown in Round 7 to record the sensational stoppage. He’s probably a victory or two away from a title shot. Ocampo failed in his bid to become a welterweight champion when he was stopped at the end of Round 1 against beltholder Errol Spence Jr. in 2018 in Frisco, Texas, his first fight in the United States. The 26-year-old Mexican moved up to junior middleweight after the setback and has won 12 consecutive fights, mostly against second-tier opposition in Mexico. He last fought in June, when he stopped Vicente Martin Rodriguez in one round in Anaheim, California. Ocampo is ranked No. 13 by the WBC.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Xu Can vs. Brandon Leon Benitez, featherweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
SATURDAY
Dennis Hogan vs. Sam Eggington, junior middleweights, Newcastle, Australia (no U.S. TV).
