Eubank vs. Penn 2: Connor Penn ends a 35-year wait for revenge

Saturday’s event was promoted as “unfinished business”, but in the build-up this did not appear to be really true – there was no dispute over the outcome of the first competition.

This may have been due to the rivalry between their fathers, who were drawn in a controversial draw in their second and final meeting in 1993.

It was the hostility that captured the attention of the British public but felt unsettled.

The scars of that fight still haunt Ben’s father, Nigel, and in the post-fight press conference he was dragged back into that mindset.

“he [Eubank Sr] “He just loves the limelight, he doesn’t care about his son,” Nigel Benn said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever talk to him again. He tries to quote the Bible but he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

As Nigel grew older, his son began to laugh and could imagine himself talking about Eubank Jr. in three decades.

Although he still held a grudge, it seemed that Nigel was able to end the feud through his son.

He added: “I don’t know if Conor knows or not, but this is my last training camp.”

“I won’t do this anymore. I have three beautiful children in Australia who need me. And I have a beautiful wife who needs me.”

Sons were never supposed to fight. Eubank Jr. is seven years older, and Connor Penn has run two lower weight classes for most of his career.

But the desire to see two icons – Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn – return to the world of boxing alongside their sons was insatiable.

As characters, they couldn’t be more apart.

The elder Eubank is a performer, often drawing focus from his son with his dance moves, while the elder Ben is straight and direct.

At the post-fight press conference, Nigel changed out of his cream suit and into a blue Team Penn tracksuit.

He entered the room next to his son followed by a group of about 20 people made up of family, friends and coaches.

Ben was keen to pay tribute to each of them after helping them through the “dark times” when he was banned from boxing after testing positive for a banned substance.

“There were a lot of people in the locker room who were there for me in those dark times,” Ben said.

“I wasn’t strong enough to do it on my own. They gave me wisdom and helped carry me. Win-win for them.”