Chris Eubank Jr has praised rival Conor Benn ahead of their highly anticipated grudge match on Saturday night.

For many years now, fans have wondered what would happen if Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn reignited the rivalry that was first established by their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn.

This weekend at the O2 Arena in London, we’ll finally get an answer as the pair collide in a huge showdown at 157 pounds.

Both men are fighting for bragging rights and they aren’t just doing it for themselves, either, with the pride of their fathers resting on their shoulders too.

Read more: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Date, how to watch, and everything you need to know

It’s a lot for anyone to take in and while there’s definitely some real animosity between them, it also feels as if there’s a certain level of mutual respect, too.

Second generation foes

Eubank Jr is the more senior of the two and during a recent interview with DAZN, he spoke candidly about the positive things he has to say for Benn.

"As soon as he turned pro, as soon as he came onto the scene, it wasn’t like ‘I’ve got to fight him now’, but eventually we were going to cross paths," Eubank Jr said.

"There’s too much history, too much interest. In the back of my mind, I always knew that we were going to fight, I just didn’t know when and to be honest I wasn’t expecting it to be this soon.

"But he’s got himself to a stage, to a position in his career where he has the fans, he has the hype, he can physically make the weight now."

"Very few people on the planet will ever have to do what me and him are doing, and that’s going into the hardest sport in the world and not only having to make it in that sport but having to make it behind a legend who you will always be compared to.

"That type of pressure it’s an unknown to everybody on the planet except a few people and it’s tough."

The retirement promise

Although it may sound far-fetched to some, 33-year-old Eubank Jr has said that he plans to retire from professional boxing if he winds up losing to Conor Benn.

Read more: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Eubank doubles down on retirement claims

He’s suggested it would serve as proof that he isn’t where he wants to be in the sport, especially given his aim of fighting for a world championship at some stage in the immediate future.

Benn, meanwhile, arguably has nothing to lose, even with his burning desire to gain a sense of retribution for his dad.