Chris Eubank Jr. will face Conor Benn this evening in a legacy-defining domestic blockbuster, but certain events yesterday have made one world champ believe the fight should not go ahead.
Chris Eubank Jr. failed to make weight yesterday for his clash with Conor Benn, weighing in at 160.2lbs in his first attempt and 160.05lbs on the second attempt.
As a result of missing weight, Eubank will be fined $500k. He must also contend with a rehydration clause, in which this morning he must weigh in at no more than 170lbs. The penalty if he does so will be a far greater fine.
Eubank Jr. took to social media to show the hardships he faced when cutting the weight for the fight, showing himself in a sweatsuit attempting to eek out the last grams of weight, and one former world champion has now reacted to it.
Former undisputed champion Josh Taylor fears for Chris Eubank Jr.’s safety
In a post on X, former undisputed champion Josh Taylor reacted to Eubank Jr.’s cut, stating:
“I think it should be called off. Eubank looked terrible & he has a rehydration clause chucked in there on top of that aswell.”
The rehydration clause is in place so that Eubank Jr., the naturally bigger man, could not balloon up massively in weight before the fight, as Benn, who was granted a smaller ring, is already smaller.
Though this sounds fair to some, as it means both will be at least closer in size than they might have otherwise, it is a clear hurdle for Eubank Jr. and means the window between his first weigh-in and the rehydration weigh-in is a period in which his body will not be rested or hydrated as it should be.
Taylor concluded: “I think this is potentially a very disastrous night for boxing waiting to happen. I desperately hope this is not the case.”
The Eubanks and Benns are no stranger to disaster, as Eubank Sr. caused Michael Watson brain damage in their outing, as did Nigel Benn to Gerald McLellan. Eubank Jr. also caused brain damage to Nick Blackwell in his British title fight too.
Josh Taylor was meant to fight Conor Benn before Chris Eubank Jr. fight was made
In a video posted to YouTube by BOXXER promoting tonight’s fight, Benn said how it came about to begin with:
“There were three names mentioned in the welterweight division – Jose Ramirez, Josh Taylor and Kell Brook were the names mentioned, oh and Abel Ramos, four names.”
Benn reveals a joke caused the Eubank Jr. fight after none of the others materialized: “None of them fights materialized, so out of banter I’ve gone ‘Alright then, give me Eubank Jr.‘ That’s how it started. Out of banter. It was a joke. It weren’t a thing.”
Harlem Eubank has also called Taylor out in the past. Taylor is set to face Ekow Essuman next month in Scotland.
Boxers have predicted Eubank vs Benn, though it remains to be seen who will come out on top tonight.