Amir Khan fears Chris Eubank Jr is ‘killing himself’ for Conor Benn fight
Khan also gives us his big fight prediction.
Amir Khan is backing Chris Eubank Jr to get the win over Conor Benn – but fears he will be ‘killing himself’ to make their weight limit.
Eubank Jr and Benn collide at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Saturday with Benn effectively moving up two weight divisions having made his name fighting at welterweight.
While middleweight has been Eubank Jr’s home for his last seven fights having previously fought up at super-middleweight, weight cuts have grown more challenging in recent years.
The Brighton fighter will have to tip the scales at 160lbs or less on Friday with a rehydration clause preventing him from bulking up beyond 170lbs by fight night.
Since the fight was originally made in 2022, prominent names in boxing have shared concerns over the weight limits being imposed on the 35-year-old.
His father, Chris Eubank Snr, is among those, calling for the fight to be scrapped three years ago. He has chosen to have no role to play in the build-up to this month’s showdown despite the engrossing family history it is entrenched in.
Speaking to Metro, former world champion Khan has also shared his fears over the draining weight demands, believing they will ‘play in Eubank Jr’s head’ leading into the fight.
‘With Eubank Jr, he is light but has the power,’ Khan told Metro via Spinbit.com. ‘The only thing is, he could be dehydrating himself, so I don’t know how strong or weak he is going to be. Whereas all of the advantages are with Conor Benn because he isn’t going to kill himself making weight.
‘He will be very comfortable with the weight and will be feeling good and strong. For Eubank Jr, in the back of his mind, he is going to kill himself making weight and go into a fight the next day with only 10lbs he can put on, he’s going to worry inside his head.
‘Mentally, it will play in Eubank Jr’s head but even with all of that mental disadvantage he has, I believe Eubank Jr will win that fight. He wants it more in my opinion.’
Khan has his own experience moving through the weight classes, winning world titles at super-lightweight before moving up to welterweight in pursuit of lucrative fights against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
When they didn’t come, he shocked the world by moving up to middleweight to take on Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, knocked out by the Mexican superstar in 2016.
Benn is taking a similar step up through the divisions, hoping to carry the power that has guided him to 14 knockouts in 21 fights at welterweight up to 160lbs against Eubank Jr.
While respecting Benn’s power, Khan is not convinced it is enough to trouble his hated rival.
‘Conor is a very good boxer overall who punches hard so he will have a little bit more extra power and will cause problems,’ Khan said.
‘But the thing is, I believe Eubank Jr will be able to take his power at that weight as he has fought guys very similar before and Conor is too short in my opinion.
‘Sometimes I think it is a really bad idea when you move up in weight and put all of that weight on because when you go back down again, you can never be the same strong, explosive fighter as you are thinking about looking muscle and making weight.
‘He will put so much muscle on that when he goes back down in weight, he will find it harder. Muscle is a lot harder to burn.’
