Former unified super lightweight world champion Amir Khan has spoken about the weight situation regarding the bout between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
It has been 29 years since their fathers fought to a draw at Old Trafford, three years on from the night Chris Eubank Sr stopped Nigel Benn to win the WBO middleweight title.
During a conversation with Talksport, Khan, who had been rumoured to face Benn in the past, revealed who he believed had the edge in the fight.
“It’s a very tricky fight, who’s gonna win the fight.? It’s a hard fight to call but Eubank has got the size and the strength at that weight. And then you got Benn who has been blasting everyone out in the 147 division and has been looking great.”
“But is that extra weight for him going to help him? And is that a natural weight for Eubank? It’ll help Eubank a lot more, I think.”
“If I had to pick someone, I would lean more towards Eubank Jr., but you just never know what can happen in boxing.”
The talk of weight has been the deciding factor in getting the fight over the line.
Conor Benn operates at 147lbs in the welterweight division, compared to Eubank Jr who has primarily fought as a middleweight (160lbs), and has ventured 8lbs higher to super middleweight in the past.
The agreed limit for the fight is believed to be 157lbs, a pound lower than the Brighton based middleweight has ever operated, with their being a fine of £100,000 for every pound over the limit should either man come in heavy.
Khan has been in Benn’s shoes before, when he moved up two divisions in 2016 to fight for Canelo Alvarez’s middleweight title, brutally getting knocked out in the sixth round.
Looking back on his experience, Khan discussed how the issue of weight could affect the way the fight plays out.
“It depends on what they’ve limited the weight at so they can’t go over, but if it’s at a natural weight for Eubank than I lean more towards him.”
“But if it’s a weight that Eubank, still after weighing in, has to stop eating and can’t put on that weight he normally puts on, I think that could work against him.”
“To be honest with you it could be a 50/50 fight, depending on the weight clause then”.