In a surprising turn of events at the official weigh-in, Conor Benn tipped the scales heavier than his rival Chris Eubank Jr ahead of their highly anticipated grudge rematch this Saturday.
The Scales Tell the Story
Seven months after their brutal first encounter at the same venue, the fighters returned to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for another middleweight showdown. This time, there was no repeat of the weight-making drama that marred their previous bout. Benn registered a weight of 159.3lb, a full three pounds heavier than he was in April. Eubank Jr, meanwhile, came in at 159.1lb, almost a pound lighter than his weight for the first fight.
This was a stark contrast to their April clash, where Eubank Jr failed to make the middleweight limit by a mere 0.05lbs. That infraction resulted in a hefty £375,000 fine for the fighter. For the sequel, the same strict financial penalties were in place, but both competitors successfully made weight, ensuring the fight would proceed without further contractual issues.
History and Heated Exchanges
Eubank Jr enters this rematch with the psychological advantage, having secured a decision victory in their first 12-round war. The aftermath of that initial fight was severe for Eubank Jr, who spent two nights in hospital suffering from severe dehydration, a condition he claimed was so bad it caused one of his toenails to fall off.
The bad blood between the two camps was evident during a face-off on Monday, where Benn did not miss an opportunity to take a jab at his opponent's past struggles. "Looking well," Benn said. "Bit slim around the cheekbones. I'm slightly hoping you miss weight again, just a little bit... I'm hoping you're well recovered. Have you got 10 toes? 10 toenails?"
Family Drama and Future Prospects
The Eubank family narrative has also been a central theme. The first fight served as a catalyst for Chris Eubank Jr and his father, the British boxing legend Chris Eubank Sr, to repair their relationship after not speaking for four years. Eubank Sr, who had vocally called for the first bout to be cancelled, shocked everyone by attending the fight with his son.
Despite their reconciled relationship, the elder Eubank has pleaded with his son to retire from the dangerous sport. "My father wants me to retire," Eubank Jr confirmed in an interview with Good Morning Britain. "He does not want me to continue on in this sport. He knows how dangerous it is, but he will be there supporting me on the night."
The stage is now set for a explosive night of boxing. The 12-round middleweight rematch will take place on Saturday, November 15. The undercard is expected to begin around 5pm UK time, with the main event ringwalks scheduled for approximately 9:50pm. The fight will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view.
