Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football newsletterOn Saturday 26 April, 2025, 67,484 boxing fans got their money’s worth, and then some. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was packed to capacity as fans waited for the conclusion of a long-running feud: Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. It was well worth the wait. The intoxicating fight culminated in the first claiming victory by unanimous decision. It’s time to reignite the rivalry. The pair will return to their old battleground on Saturday 15th November for a rematch. Eubank Jr. is determined to achieve a repeat victory. “Training for me isn’t something that starts and stops,” He says. “It’s a lifestyle. Even when I’m not in camp, I’m still training – still sharpening the tools. Then when camp begins, everything just intensifies.”The term is used to describe his day-to-day activities. “intense” Feeling inadequate. The essential habit and technical drills are the key to success. “people don’t expect from a fighter” – this is what Chris Eubank Jr’s camp looks like. Subscribe to DAZN now to watch over 185 fights a yearA week of training with Chris Eubank JrA typical week in Eubank Jr’s camp involves six days of training and one day “off”. The word “off” Even on this day the fighter tends to still do some form “active recovery” – low-intensity activity to keep the body moving. “Every session has a purpose,” Eubank Jr. “You’re building endurance, power, speed, reflexes – all the attributes that make you dangerous in that ring.”Boxers start their training days early by running six to seven miles. “That’s followed by a session in the boxing gym: pads, bag work, technical drills,” He continues. “Sparring comes in a few times a week once we’re in the thick of camp. Strength and conditioning sessions slot in between those explosive movements, core stability and mobility.” • Read more: Strength training helped Crawford reach a new level… which workouts should you do to improve your boxing performance?open image in galleryThe first fight between Chris Eubank Jr (right) and Conor Benn in April was a brutal contest (Bradley Collyer/PA)The most important physical attribute to develop as a boxerA professional boxer is a consummate athlete, blending the supreme skill needed to succeed in the sport with physical attributes such as strength, power, speed and agility. The knockout power that gets all the attention is not the most important aspect of fitness for Eubank Jr. He believes it correlates closely with success in the ring. “Everyone will tell you something different – power, speed, endurance – but for me it’s all about conditioning,” He says. “You can have all the talent in the world, but if your engine fails, you’re done. “The ability to sustain intensity round after round, that’s what breaks opponents. You develop that through consistency and suffering; the early morning runs, the rounds when your lungs are burning and your body’s telling you to stop. That’s where the conditioning is built – when you keep going after the point most people would quit.”Eubank Jr. recommends this drill to give you a taste of it. Complete three sets of the sequence: Rest for 60 second, Skip for three minute. “Skipping is old school, but it’s timeless – there’s a reason every great fighter does it,” He says. “It builds rhythm, coordination, footwork, and it’s one of the best forms of cardio you can do without even leaving your house. “Try to skip for three three-minute rounds with 30 seconds rest in between. Do that consistently and you’ll start to understand what boxing fitness really feels like.”• Read more: The expert-approved workout that can help boxers build fight-ready fitnessopen image in galleryChris Eubank Jr, Ben Shalom, CEO of Sela Rakan Al-Harthy, Eddie Hearn and Conor Benn during a press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Adam Davy/PA Wire)The exercise that has had the greatest impact on Chris Eubank Jr’s performance during his career“Shadowboxing has always been my bread and butter,” Eubank Jr. “It’s something a lot of fighters overlook, but it’s the purest form of the craft. You’re visualising your opponent, perfecting your timing, your rhythm, your movement, no distractions, no contact, just you and your imagination.”On some days, he may do this up to an entire hour. He might add ankle weights or hold light dumbbells in order to increase the challenge. “It looks simple, but it’s one of the hardest things to master,” Eubank Jr warns. Chris Eubank Jr’s recovery routineYou will only reap the physiological rewards of training loads you can recover from. There is no point flogging an athlete to the point they cannot bounce back and train hard for the remainder of the week – that is what fight night is for. Eubank Jr. also requires long, intensive training sessions in order to develop the skills, endurance, and physicality needed to thrive as an athlete. Eubank Jr. and his team are very serious about recovery. “Recovery is as important as the work itself,” He says. “I’m big on stretching, massage, and sleep. I take my rest seriously.“I also meditate. People don’t expect that from a fighter, but quieting the mind helps you deal with the chaos that comes with what we do.”He supports his performance with the right fuel.“In terms of diet, it’s clean, disciplined eating: lean protein, greens, complex carbs, all measured, all with a purpose,” Eubank Jr. “But I’m human – after a fight, you’ll probably catch me with a pizza or a box of Krispy Kremes. During camp, though, there’s no compromise.” Read more: Why skipping is a key part of boxing training, and how it helped Crawford beat Caneloopen image in galleryChris Eubank Jr punches Conor Benn (Getty Images)The mental traits needed to dine at boxing’s top tableEubank Jr’s initial answer to this question is concise and clinical: “Obsession. Discipline.” “You need the ability to suffer and keep your composure – you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” He adds. “Some of that you’re born with – that inner drive, that competitiveness – but a lot of it you forge through experience. “I’ve lost fights, I’ve been written off, I’ve been in hospital beds. Those moments either break you or harden you. For me, they’ve hardened me. “Mental strength comes from embracing pressure. When you learn to stay calm when the whole world’s watching and someone’s trying to take your head off, that’s when you know you belong at the top.”Read more: The daily non-negotiables that transformed Conor Benn’s health and mindset in 70 daysDAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world’s best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that’s just 64p / $1.21 per fight.
2025-10-30 19:30:37
Chris Eubank Jr reveals the gruelling regime priming him for Conor Benn rematch
