Chris Eubank Jr. has missed weight for his fight against Conor Benn set for this weekend at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The long-awaited bout between the sons of British boxing legends faces another hurdle after its initial cancellation in 2022.
Eubank Jr., who usually fights at middleweight (160lbs) or super-middleweight (168lbs), failed to make the agreed 160lbs limit. His opponent Benn, moving up from welterweight (147lbs) and light-middleweight (154lbs), weighed in at 156.4lbs, comfortably under the limit.
Eubank Jr.'s first attempt on the scales showed 162lbs. He tried again but could only get down to 160.05lbs, still over the agreed weight. This mishap will cost him dearly. According to The Ring Magazine's Mike Coppinger, Eubank Jr. will face a $500,000 fine for missing weight.
The fight agreement includes a rehydration clause limiting weight gain to 10lbs, which will be checked tomorrow morning. If Eubank Jr. fails to meet this requirement, he'll face additional penalties.
Benn seemed pleased with the turn of events. He took to Twitter, posting,
"Show me the motherf***ing money."
The boxing community isn't surprised by this development. Many have suspected that the middleweight limit is no longer healthy for the 35-year-old Eubank Jr.
Chris Eubank Sr., Eubank Jr.'s father and a vocal critic of this matchup, called the situation "disgraceful" and "against the rules." He maintains that the main event won't go ahead.
Despite the weight issue, the promotion continues. Fight night will likely see a significant weight difference between the two fighters, possibly around 20lbs.
This bout carries extra significance as it continues the rivalry between Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn from decades ago. Their sons now carry on the family legacy, albeit with some unexpected twists along the way.
