The odds that the grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn turns into a slugfest have been raised. Benn revealed on Sky Sports that his request for an 18-foot ring has been approved for Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he faces Eubank Jr.

Boxing fans are divided over Saturday’s boxing showpiece. Some see Conor Benn v Chris Eubank Jnr as a welcome reboot of a once-great franchise. Others consider it a tawdry cash-in. But no one has been more consistently critical than Eubank’s own father.

Benn has had to sacrifice fighting at his preferred weight, but his demand for a smaller ring has been granted in return