Chris Eubank Jr. has come in a fraction overweight for his fight with Conor Benn.
The two Brits were born with a rivalry started by their fathers in the nineties and are due to settle it this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Whilst many points of the narrative set up a grudge match perfectly, Eubank Jr and Benn compete in different divisions entirely. Much of the debate surrounding the fight has been centred on the contracted weight of 160lbs, the middleweight class in which Eubank has been fighting for most of his career other than a stint up at 168.
The fight also has a 10lbs rehydration clause in effect for the morning of the contest, meaning neither fighter, though it only applies to Eubank, can be over 170lbs tomorrow AM.
Benn is a natural welterweight (147) who has had two fights at 154. Despite the gulf in bulk, he is confident he knocks out the 35-year-old Eubank in two rounds.
When weighing in this morning, Benn came in at 156.4lbs, almost 4 pounds off the limit. Though he will likely benefit from keeping some speed and stamina, he could now be as much as 20lbs lighter than his rival at the time of the first bell.
Eubank took to the scales at 160.2lbs and then, on second opportunity, a fraction over the limit at 160.05lbs. Per the Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, he will be hit with a fine of $500,000.
All eyes now turn to Saturday morning and whether or not the bigger man can stay within the contractual rehydration limit. The pair will face off for a final time this evening at the ceremonial weigh-in.
