With Chris Eubank Jr.’s comeback on the horizon, Conor Benn has thrown down a gauntlet of sorts at his bitter rival, suggesting that a trilogy encounter at super-middleweight is way from off the table.
After months of medical rehabilitation and recuperation, Eubank Jr.’s promoter Ben Shalom confirmed the Brighton native is targeting a return in the summertime of 2026, and a move as much as 168 kilos appears imminent.
Benn, fresh off his dominant victory over Eubank Jr. in November’s rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, has made it abundantly clear that he has little interest in lingering for much longer within the middleweight division.
TWO knockdowns in Round 12! 😱
The last minute of Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn 2 was INSANE!!! 🔥#EubankBenn2 pic.twitter.com/qkjaiKdTtk
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 15, 2025
His stated ambitions center on a return to welterweight and a world title pursuit. Nonetheless, Benn’s recent comments suggest the narrative between him and Eubank Jr. might not be entirely written. When asked about Eubank Jr.’s impending return, Benn stated he’s “expecting a phone call” a couple of trilogy fight at 168 kilos. His reasoning is especially compelling: “I feel once he realizes that there isn’t any one at 168 that he ought to be getting within the ring with in the mean time then I shall be expecting a phone call.”
🗣️ @ConorNigel has revealed to us that with Chris Eubank Jr set to return to the ring at super-middleweight, he’s expecting a phone call a couple of trilogy fight at 168lbs.
Would you wish to see the trilogy at super-middle? 👀#ConorBenn | #ChrisEubankJr | #BoxingDebate pic.twitter.com/7xw6oBI4UL
— IFL TV (@IFLTV) January 27, 2026
The quote carries significant weight given the landscape of the super-middleweight division. With Terence Crawford vacating the undisputed championship last month following his retirement from pound-for-pound calculations, the 168-pound division has experienced a seismic shift.
The sanctioning bodies are already in motion to crown latest champions, meaning there are multiple pathways to major titles—yet the division notably lacks established elite opposition. This creates a singular dynamic where Eubank Jr., despite his recent struggles, would find himself among the many more achieved fighters in the load class by resume alone.
Benn’s current posture toward the Eubank saga has shifted dramatically because the rematch. Initially, each fighters had proclaimed an end to their chapter, with Benn insisting the rivalry was concluded and that he wanted nothing more to do with the Eubank family.
Yet when pressed on the prospect of additional compensation, Benn acknowledged that “money talks,” leaving the door barely ajar. His latest comments suggest he’s willing to entertain the likelihood if circumstances align favorably—specifically if Eubank Jr. finds slim pickings at super-middleweight and circles back with a proposal.
The subtext here is revealing. Benn, at 24-1 with designs on welterweight titles, doesn’t need Eubank Jr. anymore in a narrative sense. Their series stands at 1-1, and the second installment was emphatically one-sided, with Benn dropping his rival twice within the twelfth round to secure a commanding unanimous decision.
A trilogy would only make sense if the financial proposition justified pulling him away from his real ambitions at a lower weight class. Eubank Jr.’s move to 168 kilos, while potentially revitalizing his profession if he can resolve his ongoing medical concerns, would place him squarely in Benn’s crosshairs if the cash materialized.
What makes this scenario compelling is not just the history between them—it is the notion that Benn is actually waiting. The subsequent move, as he’s made clear, is Eubank Jr.’s to make. Should his comeback prove successful at super-middleweight and may the financial incentive reach the crucial threshold, Benn appears willing to derail his welterweight plans for one final lucrative showdown. For now, though, Benn is moving forward along with his own ambitions, and the phone, as he’s suggested, stays in Eubank Jr.’s hands