Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn found a brilliantly creative way to bypass a speaking ban imposed by Chris Eubank Jr ahead of their highly anticipated rematch this weekend. The Matchroom chief, who has traded numerous verbal jabs with Eubank Jr in recent months, was forbidden from speaking at the final pre-fight press conference.
The Silent Night Prank
Rather than remain silent, Hearn took direct inspiration from the beloved British romantic comedy, Love Actually. As the song 'Silent Night' played through the speakers, the 46-year-old promoter held up a series of handwritten cards to convey his message to the audience and fighters.
The cards read: "Good evening all! I know it upsets Chris when I speak. So I've taken a new approach." They continued to praise last April's fight as a "British classic" and declared that "to me, Conor Benn is perfect" and ready for "the performance of his career."
Eubank Jr's Reaction and Hearn's Inspiration
The unusual stunt drew laughter from the crowd and even amused Eubank Jr himself, who responded: "Wow he's finally learnt. He's finally learnt guys that he cannot speak during the press conference. What a beautiful thing it is that I don't have to interrupt this guy."
After the press conference, Hearn revealed the idea came from an unexpected source. "I'll be honest with you, someone sent me a DM today on Instagram, randomly, I don't know who he is, and said 'why don't you do the Love Actually scene with silent night?'" Hearn explained. He admitted they watched the movie clip and quickly printed the cards just 45 minutes before the event.
The Upcoming Rematch Details
The much-anticipated 12-round middleweight rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. This comes seven months after their first encounter, which Eubank Jr won by a razor-thin points decision.
Fans can watch the event live on DAZN pay-per-view for £24.99 or stream it for free with a DAZN Ultimate plan. While official timings haven't been confirmed, the undercard is expected to begin around 5pm UK time, with the main event ringwalks anticipated for approximately 9:50pm UK time.
