Eddie Hearn plays down the chances of Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr being made, but insists ‘The Destroyer’ can win the fight

For the last few weeks it has seemed that a potential fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr is not a matter of 'if' but 'when'.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, however, has cast doubt over whether the fight will now be going ahead in a coy .

Hearn did confirm that Benn would definitely be fighting on October 8 at the O2 Arena, but it won't necessarily be against Eubank Jr, despite negotiations being underway.

"There's a very good chance it could be a welterweight match up as well," Hearn told IFL TV.

"This is a fight that Conor's always wanted, it's different this fight, it's not about world championships... but it's historic.

"So, we're considering it on that basis, but we also have a strategy at 147lbs and things have got to be right around the park."

Hearn went on to reveal that in principle the weight is agreed and if the fight does go ahead, Benn would not just be taking it for the financial implications, but because he thinks he can win.

"Conor Benn is a huge star with a huge future," Hearn said.

"He believes and we believe that he can beat Chris Eubank Jr and obviously we know the rewards of that fight financially. It's just an epic fight, but there's a long way to go."

Once again, however, Hearn felt the need to temper expectations by confirming for a second time that nothing is set in stone.

"Don't be surprised to see Conor Benn fighting someone else on October 8," Hearn said. "We've kept our options open, but we're almost at decision time, I'm talking about in the next few days."

A clash between Benn and Eubank Jr is a peculiar match up given that both men are at very different stages of their careers and they have been campaigning up to three weight classes apart in recent years.

But, given the history that their fathers shared, engaging in one of the great British boxing rivalries in the early 1990's, which included two epic world title fights, makes the personal aspect of their two sons fighting irresistible.