Chris Eubank Jr misses weight and slapped with fine ahead of Conor Benn fight
He failed two attempts to come in under the 160lbs limit.
Chris Eubank Jr has dramatically failed to make weight by just 0.05lb ahead of his fight with Conor Benn and will be hit with a £375,000 fine.
The two men are set for a showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday with Eubank Jr failing to come in under the 160lbs limit twice.
Eubank Jr scaled 160.2lb in his first attempt before his second go saw him tip 160.05, missing the mark by the same weight as an AA battery.
As per the rules in their contract, Eubank Jr will now be deduced £375,000 from his purse for the highly anticipated grudge match in north London.
Eubank Jr and Benn meet in the ring tomorrow in one of the most vicious rivalries in boxing, following in the footsteps of their respective fathers.
The weight limit for the bout has been a contentious issue ever since it was first discussed nearly four years ago.
Benn boxes at welterweight (147lbs) with Eubank Jr mainly operating two divisions higher at middleweight (160lbs).
In 2022, a catchweight of 157lbs was agreed in a decision which infuriated Chris Eubank Sr, who called for the fight to be scrapped.
This time around, Eubank Jr and his team got their way, with this weekend’s battle to be contested at 160lbs.
But staying at middleweight has remained a task in itself for Eubank Jr, who had several mid-career fights at super-middle before returning to the 160lb division.
Eubank Jr was due to arrive at 11am for his weigh-in on Friday but had still not shown up past midday, leaving Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn fuming.
It is reported that Eubank Jr used the time to trim extra weight in an attempt to hit the contracted allowance – but he ultimately failed.
Benn, meanwhile, came in well under the limit at 156.4lbs, taking to the scales around 50 minutes before Eubank Jr.
‘It’s tough,’ Eubank Jr said. ‘I’m not going to lie. It’s not fun, it’s not nice. It’s part of the sport having to boil yourself down to a certain weight.
‘Adding in the fact I can’t even drink as much as I want after the weigh-in adds another element of discomfort [and] hardship to what I’m going through.’
The two fighters agreed to a rehydration clause – meaning neither is able to add more than 10lb in weight between Friday’s weigh-in and a check weigh-in on Saturday.
Eubank Jr and Benn’s bitter rivalry has continued to grow and grow, with a chaotic press conference in February illustrating the genuine resentment that has consumed both camps.
Security pulled the two men apart after Eubank Jr slapped his rival with an egg during their face-off with Benn’s father Nigel and promoter Hearn also in the thick of it.
