It’s hard to think of a weigh in that will be as highly scrutinised as the one that sees Chris Eubank Jr take to the scales ahead of his fight with Conor Benn.
The reason? Eubank Jr is coming down to 157lb – a weight he says he hasn’t been since his teenage years. He turned 33 this week. It’s become the main talking point for a fight that’s taking hold of the nation’s interest as it nears – mainly because their fathers shared the ring twice in the nineties and everybody loves a bit of nostalgia.
Whilst Chris Eubank Sr is adamant the weight cut is too dangerous for the fight to go ahead, and Junior confident he can do it safely, Conor Benn has now said that he doesn’t believe his opponent will make it at all. He told the PA his thoughts.
“He said he’s a man of his word and a disciplined athlete, but do I see him making the weight? No.
If he’s disciplined and a true professional then he’ll make the weight, but I just don’t think he has that respect there for an opponent or for me personally. I’m willing to fight him anyway, it isn’t a concern to me. But that was the weight we agreed and if he’s a man of his word he’ll come in at that weight.”
Much has been made about the rehydration clause, too. Whilst the number hasn’t been released, it’s there to prevent Eubank Jr piling weight back on once he makes the initial cut on weight-in day. The promoters have suggested serious financial penalties for coming in over – £80,000 per lb has been mentioned – and the fight being cancelled altogether if Eubank is a certain amount too high.
So, whilst Benn says he’d be happy to fight on, contractually he may not be able to. Let’s just hope then that his prediction on this occasion is off the mark. If it is, the pair will meet in the ring next Saturday, October 8, in London. Fans watching from home can purchase the fight via DAZN PPV.