Chris Eubank Jr has been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after his win over Conor Benn. A gruelling 12-round battle went the way of Eubank Jr with all three judges scoring it a 116-112 victory in the 35-year-old’s favour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The British middleweight was then advised by the British Boxing Board of Control doctor to go to get checked over and he left the stadium in an ambulance. Such actions are commonplace for boxers who have gone the distance in tough fights as a precaution. Eubank Jr wore a cut over his right eye after a clash of heads and looked exhausted towards the fight’s conclusion after dropping down to make the 11st 6lb middleweight limit.

Speaking after his win, Eubank Jr said: “First of all, thank the one above. I knew I was capable of that. I just needed someone to bring that out of me. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect he’d be the guy to do that. The fact our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings out a different soul, a different spirit into you.

“That’s what we both showed here tonight.”I pushed through. There’s a lot of things that have been going on in my life that I’m not going to get into right now. I’m happy to have this man back with me. We’ve upheld the family name like we said we were going to do. Onwards and upwards.”

Eubank Sr was present to witness the fight despite previously requesting for it to be called off and calling his son a “disgrace” for slapping Benn with an egg at a press conference. The 58-year-old turned up by surprise alongside his son and later insisted in the ring: “I was always going to be here.”

Asked about having his dad present, Chris Jr said: “It was a big lift. It was one of those things that was special. It was special. He needed to be here. All of this was because of what he did. And we did it again baby.”

On his opponent Benn, Eubank Jr admitted: “Everything surprised me. I didn’t know he had what he had in him. I really didn’t. I thought I’d break him early. I underestimated him. I didn’t train for a fight like that. I didn’t know he had that in him. He’s never shown that but then again he’s never had to show it. He had to show it tonight. So did I.”

While the defeated Benn reacted: “Maybe fourteen months out of the ring played a factor. That’d be the only thing – inactivity. Apart from that, I felt like it was a close fight. I’m not going to go, ‘Yeah I think I won it.’ and all that, I’ve got to watch it back. I know it was close.

“I stayed on the ropes maybe a bit too long. He worked harder towards the end. But I’ll have to watch it back. But I enjoyed it and a massive thank you to all my supporters who came out. Some homecoming. We always knew Chris is a good fighter. All the fighting talk is fighting talk.

“He’s a good fighter. I believe I can fight at 160lbs. If we don’t do the rematch, which I’d love to avenge that loss, I’ll drop down to welterweight and win the WBC world title. It’s either Mario Barrios or the rematch with Eubank. Whichever happens next I’ll be content with.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted that he wishes he could play another sport rather than snooker.

That’s down to the mental toll that snooker takes on the Rocket, who compared it to chess and would rather play football instead.

He told TNT Sports: “I can’t switch off, no. It’s with you all the time. Even when I’m at home practising. If I’ve had a dodgy day, I go home and I’m sitting there and I’m like quiet, moody.

“Sort of like in my own head and the missus is looking at me, thinking, ‘come on, liven up’. I say snooker’s like chess with balls. It’s one of them sports.

“You see chess players. There’s a lot going on in their heads. But with footballers, you just have a laugh and a joke. I envy it. I wish I could have been a footballer. They look like you’re having a great time.”

Arsenal are expected to reignite their interest in a stunning swoop for wantaway Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku this summer, according to reports. Nkunku looks primed to seek a Stamford Bridge escape at the end of the season, and a cross-London switch could be one of the options on the table.

The Frenchman joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in a £52million deal in 2023 but suffered an early long-term injury and has struggled to establish himself since. Nkunku is the Blues’ joint-top goalscorer this season, netting 14 times in all competitions, but Enzo Maresca often uses him on the wing rather than his favoured central position. And that’s when he actually gets minute, having grown accustomed to starting games as a substitute.

According to RMC Sport, Nkunku is increasingly considering a Chelsea exit this summer, and several European heavyweights are showing interest.

The 27-year-old was linked with an exit in the January transfer window, with Manchester United touted as suitors to bolster Ruben Amorim‘s attacking firepower.

Arsenal were also reportedly in the frame as Mikel Arteta navigated an attacking injury crisis, which stifled the Gunners’ Premier League title challenge.

It’s claimed that the Emirates Stadium giants are set to join Bayern Munich in returning to the table this summer, and Nkunku wants a club playing in the Champions League.

Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has urged the club to part ways with Nkunku in the coming months, insisting the exciting transfer hasn’t worked out.

He said: “I think they need to cut their losses and go their separate ways. It’s best for the club but also the future of the player. Careers are pretty short so you have to react quickly if it doesn’t work.

“And it can happen like this; sometimes, the chemistry doesn’t work. I was very happy to see him come to Chelsea, but it’s never worked.

“He’s never been able to settle down, maybe because the position he’s been offered wasn’t the right one.

“It’s never worked for him, but he’s still a good player. He will have to rebound, but we’ve seen that before with players like Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah when they left.”

Nkunku’s future at Chelsea has also descended into further uncertainty amid reports that Maresca is eyeing more attacking firepower in the transfer market.

The Blues reportedly plan to sign a winger and striker as part of their summer recruitment drive, which would make minutes even more difficult to come by.