Chris Eubank Jr. has missed weight for his fight with Conor Benn. The fighter tipped the scales slightly over the contracted limit, setting the stage for a dramatic build-up to their long-awaited bout.
Eubank Jr. weighed in at 160.2lbs on his first attempt and 160.05lbs on his second try, just barely missing the 160lbs middleweight mark. His opponent, Benn, came in comfortably under at 156.4lbs, nearly 4 pounds below the limit.
The weight miss comes with a hefty price tag. According to Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine, Eubank Jr. will face a $500,000 penalty for failing to make weight.
This fight carries extra significance as it aims to settle a rivalry that began with their fathers in the 1990s. The bout is set to take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, with both fighters making concessions to meet in the middle weight-wise.
Eubank Jr., 35, normally fights at middleweight (160lbs) or super-middleweight (168lbs). Benn, on the other hand, has spent most of his career at welterweight (147lbs), though he's had two recent outings at 154lbs.
The contracted weight of 160lbs seemed to favor Eubank Jr., but it's Benn who's made weight comfortably. This could give Benn an advantage in speed and stamina, though he might give up as much as 20lbs to Eubank Jr. by fight night.
A rehydration clause in the contract limits Eubank Jr. to 170lbs on the morning of the fight. He'll need to weigh in again on Saturday morning to ensure he meets this requirement.
Despite the weight drama, Benn remains confident. He's predicted he'll knock out Eubank Jr. in two rounds.
The fighters will face off one last time at the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday evening. With the actual weights now known, this final staredown promises to be intense.
