British stars Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn are set to run it back this year.
This pair of generational rivals have dominated the boxing conversation in the UK for some time, not least after their first fight back in April. Following plenty of controversy in the build-up – including failed s tests, a cancelled fight date, egg slapping and the last-minute involvement of Chris Eubank Sr – the fight itself lived up to the hype.
It was an action-packed back and forth with both men throwing plenty of shots from the first to the last bell. Ultimately, Eubank’s size had a bearing on the fight and saw him take control late on to score a unanimous points win.
As for the all-important weight details for the second fight, set for September 20 in London, the Ring Magazine is reporting that they will be the same as the first time around – the middleweight limit of 160 pounds with a ten pound rehydration clause on the morning of the fight.
This once again means that Benn will be fighting much higher than his natural weight, albeit this time he will have already experienced that once in the first fight.
The rehydration clause, meanwhile, again puts plenty of pressure on Eubank, the naturally much bigger man – who failed to make weight by half an ounce and was subsequently fined – as he will not be able to bulk up as much as he would like following the weigh-in.
Many in the sport, despite the IBF employing these clauses for title fights, feel that fighters should be allowed to rehydrate fully for the benefits of safety. Since the first fight, Eubank’s team had hinted that they would be pushing for this detail to be removed from the contract, however have either decided against doing so or were unsuccessful.
The news also comes not long after Eubank was called to face the British Boxing Board of Control in relation to a video he posted on social media due to potential use of a sauna during his weight cut – an act banned by the BBBofC.
