Eubank Jr slaps Benn with egg at chaotic face-off

Chris Eubank Jr slapped Conor Benn across the face with an egg during a head-to-head at an extraordinary media conference in Manchester.

The British rivals who will fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 26 April at times acted like petulant children and hurled foul-mouthed insults at each other throughout the event.

Tension later filled the auditorium at the Manchester Central venue before the obligatory face-off.

The pair exchanged words close up, before Eubank produced an egg from his pocket and hit Benn across the cheek with his left hand.

An already volatile Benn, with his father Nigel next to him, lost control and both boxers were held back by security guards.

A scheduled fight between the pair in October 2022 was called off after Benn failed a voluntary drugs test, prompting a two-year battle with anti-doping authorities, before his suspension was lifted in November.

Benn has always denied intentionally doping and both fighters are being tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) for the contest.

An independent report by the WBC in February 2023 said his failed drugs test was not intentional and could have been caused by a “highly elevated consumption” of eggs.

“Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg,” Eubank posted on social media with a clip of the incident.

With 34 wins in a career spanning more than 13 years, Eubank, 35, has fought at a significantly higher level. His losses have come against former world champions Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves and Liam Smith.

Eubank and Benn have reignited a family rivalry after their hall-of-fame fathers fought for a second time almost 32 years ago.

Eubank Sr was not in attendance, however, and appears reluctant to be involved in the promotion of the fight.-BBC