'Call it a day' - Frampton & Bellew react to Eubank's loss

Chris Eubank Jr's rematch defeat by Conor Benn may be the time to retire, according to former boxers Carl Frampton and Barry Jones.

Eubank, 36, was beaten unanimously by Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, seven months on from Eubank's victory in the first meeting between the two.

All three judges scored the fight convincingly in favour of Benn with Eubank struggling to even challenge his rival, months after beating him.

"It was a great performance from Conor, but this might be the time to call it a day for Chris," retired world champion Frampton told DAZN.

"I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm just being honest."

Former WBO super-featherweight champion Jones echoed Frampton's sentiment, pointing to Eubank's struggles throughout fight.

"I do think it should be the end for Chris," said Jones on DAZN.

"It was evident from round one that he was flat. It could be weight or it could be wear and tear, I think it's the latter.

"We should give all the credit to Conor Benn, but there were opportunities for Chris to pull the trigger.

"He didn't throw his punches from round one. He was quite lethargic."

Lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson, who has won belts in multiple weights, said Eubank was clearly "weight drained".

Eubank has fought most of his recent career at middleweight but was restricted by a rehydration clause on fight day that prevented him from putting more than 10lbs.

Boxing legend turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya also defended Eubank's performance.

"Let me give you a little tutorial on boxing," he wrote on X.

"Eubank never had a chance due to weight drain."

Eubank refused to rule out retirement, but said he needed time to heal after hinting at problems in the build-up to the fight.

"I've been through hell and back to make it here," he said.

"I genuinely thought that regardless of the issues that I have been dealing with, I would be able to go in there and win, use my boxing skills and use what I used in the first fight to beat Conor Benn.

"From that first round, I realised that I was mistaken, but it's OK."

As Eubank ended his post-fight news conference, he cut off his promoter Ben Shalom when a small insight was provided behind the struggles.

"All I want to say is what Chris went through in camp, he won't want to talk about it, but the things I saw, he did incredibly well to get in the ring tonight," Shalom started to say before Eubank implored him to stop.

"Chris doesn't want to [speak], but I saw what I saw and he deserves a huge amount of credit to get in there."

Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew disagreed with suggestions of retirement for Eubank, but did say that Benn's performance would have won the fight "10 times out of 10".

"Round seven and eight, he tried to put it together but he couldn't' work out the timing and rhythm of Conor Benn," said Bellew.

"He was out jabbed, outworked and bullied.

"All of the good things came good to Conor Benn. That was the difference. Benn used the speed and size to his advantage. [Eubank] couldn't deal with Conor Benn.

"As convincing and one-sided a win as you'll ever see in boxing."

Frampton said that Benn's management of his emotions made a difference in the rematch.

"Benn was controlled with his attacks. He wasn't putting in too much energy," added the Northern Ireland fighter.

"I think emotions are good for Benn, but I think they were too much for him in the last fight."

Rapper 50 Cent, real name Curtis James Jackson, walked Eubank to the ring and called for a trilogy bout.

"What a fight them boys went to war tonight, they gotta do that again," he wrote on X.