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Former undisputed super-middleweight world champion joe calzaghe Looks like there will be more caution when it comes to both fighters chris eubank jr And Connor Benn Clash again in their grudge rematch.
Eubank Jr. won a brutal debut contest by unanimous decision during April, in which the fight, scheduled at the 160-pound middleweight limit, revived memories of the fierce rivalry between their fathers three decades earlier.
However, Benn shook off his naturally larger opponent with an early rout before fading in the latter stages to suffer his first professional defeat.
There are no signs of thawing in relations between the rival camps as they prepare to face each other for the second time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 15.
Welshman Calzaghe – who defeated Chris Eubank Sr. by unanimous decision after 12 brutal rounds to claim the vacant title in October 1997 wbo Super-middleweight title – confident the rematch can go the distance again.
“They’ll both probably learn from the first fight, especially with Ben because he probably needs to pace himself a bit more,” Calzaghe told the PA news agency.
“He called Eubanks early, didn’t he? I think he tried to wear him out and he slowly got tired.
“He (Ben) is much bigger now than when he was at his natural weight, but then where do you make the adjustment?
“If you’re not as explosive at the start this time, will you catch Eubank again and try to knock him out? Or will you try to box him out?
“There are a lot of question marks – will Eubank also be a little more cautious, knowing he could get hurt if (Ben) catches him? So I think there has to be a little more caution in this fight.”
During a press conference last month, Eubank Jr, 36, accused Benn’s team of “sabotage” in the wake of his victory – which left him spending two days in hospital due to severe dehydration.
Calzaghe thinks Eubank Jr. also won’t want to let the 29-year-old Benn get off to another torrid start when he finally returns to the ring.
“I’m not sure he had respect for Ben’s power,” said the 53-year-old Calzaghe, who held the WBO super-middleweight title for more than 11 years and retired in 2009 with a perfect 46-0 record.
“Because if I fight a much smaller guy, you think ‘What can he do? You’re so small, how are you going to hurt me?’ But he (Benn) discussed it with him (Eubank) and you will be aware of that.
“I think he (Eubank) will keep him on the end of that jab because Ben will be more dangerous in the early rounds.
“But I would be surprised if it became explosive right off the bat. It’s really a Catch 22, so I think it would be more cautious and that’s OK.”
:: Joe Calzaghe speaking ahead of his special appearance at The Hippodrome Casino for Eubank Jr. vs. Ben 2 on November 15.