The grudge match between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr has taken another dramatic twist just hours before fight night – with Eubank Jr missing weight and Benn wasting no time in publicly calling him out.
Eubank Jr, who has competed comfortably at middleweight for most of his career, initially tipped the scales at 160.2lbs. He returned for a second attempt shortly after and registered 160.05lbs – marginally over the limit but over the limit nonetheless.
As a result, he will be fined $500,000 (around £400,000), a significant penalty from his estimated £7.5million purse.
Conor Benn Responds to Chris Eubank Jr. Missing Weight
Benn, who is stepping up in weight for the fight, took to X to pour scorn on his rival’s failure to make weight and questioned the timing of Eubank Jr’s social media posts documenting his cut.
“Christopher who are you trying to fool and get sympathy from? I’m coming UP to your weight — a weight you’ve made your last 3 fights and most of your career! It’s like you’re looking for excuses already? First time you’ve ever missed weight and first time you’ve ever posted a weight cut.”
The tweet suggests Benn believes Eubank Jr is playing mind games ahead of their long-awaited clash, a bout steeped in family history and personal rivalry.
The pair were originally scheduled to meet in 2022, only for the fight to collapse at the last minute after Benn’s failed drug test. Now, with their showdown finally back on, tensions are higher than ever.
Benn has remained adamant throughout the build-up that he’s the true underdog, stepping up two weight divisions to settle the score, and Eubank’s failure to make weight has only added fuel to the fire, though many sympathise with the efforts made by Eubank after his social media post shows the hardships fighters go through to cut weight.
As fight night looms, the drama continues, and Benn is making it clear he’s ready no matter what.
The Weigh-In Drama Unfolds Ahead of the First Clash
The weigh-in, which took place on April 25, 2025, at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, set the stage for the highly anticipated first encounter between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr.. The agreed-upon limit for this middleweight contest was 160 pounds (72.57 kg). Chris Eubank Jr., a natural middleweight and former IBO middleweight champion, struggled to make the stipulated weight. On his initial attempt, Eubank Jr. registered 160.2 lbs, and after a second try, he still came in at 160.05 lbs, exceeding the limit by a mere 0.05 lbs (14 grams). This marginal miss triggered a contractual penalty, resulting in a substantial fine of £375,000, equivalent to $500,000, which was to be paid to Benn.
In contrast, Conor Benn, typically campaigning in the welterweight division (147 lbs), weighed in comfortably at 156.4 lbs (71 kg), well under the middleweight limit. The weigh-in also highlighted the presence of a rehydration clause, a common feature in catchweight bouts, which stipulated that neither fighter could gain more than 10 lbs (4.54 kg) between the official weigh-in and a secondary check on the morning of the fight. Eubank Jr. later dismissed the significance of his weight miss, attributing it to the weigh-in procedure and claiming the scales were closed early, denying him the opportunity to shed the small excess weight. He described these as “psychological tactics” designed to unsettle him.
A Rivalry Forged in History and Controversy
The bout between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. was not merely a fight; it was the rekindling of a generational rivalry that captivated British boxing fans in the 1990s. Their fathers, Nigel Benn (“The Dark Destroyer”) and Chris Eubank Sr., engaged in two legendary clashes, with Eubank Sr. winning the first by TKO in 1990 and their 1993 rematch ending in a controversial draw. The anticipation for their sons to continue this legacy was immense, leading to an initial fight announcement for October 8, 2022, at The O2 Arena in London. This original contest was set at a catchweight of 157 lbs, a point of contention given Eubank Jr.’s history at middleweight and super-middleweight, and Benn’s natural welterweight status.
However, this highly anticipated event was dramatically called off just days before the scheduled date. Conor Benn tested positive for trace amounts of clomifene, a female fertility drug prohibited in sports due to its potential to boost testosterone levels. The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) detected the substance in two separate tests, leading the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) to prohibit the fight for safety reasons. Benn vehemently denied intentional doping, suggesting his positive tests could be attributed to “highly elevated consumption of eggs” or environmental contamination. He voluntarily relinquished his British boxing license and faced a provisional suspension from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). After a lengthy legal battle, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) eventually cleared Benn in November 2024, stating they were “not comfortably satisfied” that he had committed a violation, paving the way for his return to the ring. Prior to the rescheduled Eubank Jr. fight, Benn made his comeback with unanimous decision victories over Rodolfo Orozco in September 2023 and Peter Dobson in February 2024.
The First Clash: Eubank Jr. Claims Victory (April 2025)
After two and a half years of waiting and intense speculation, the “Fatal Fury” bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn finally took place on April 26, 2025, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Heading into this contest, Chris Eubank Jr., aged 35, boasted a professional record of 34 wins, 3 losses, with 25 knockouts. Conor Benn, 28 years old, entered the ring with an unblemished record of 23 wins, 0 losses, and 14 knockouts. The fight was a non-title affair but carried immense prestige due to the family legacy and the dramatic build-up.
The fight itself lived up to its billing as a “Fight of the Year contender,” delivering 12 rounds of non-stop action. Despite Eubank Jr.’s size advantage and Benn stepping up two weight classes, “The Destroyer” started aggressively, landing significant shots and even hurting Eubank Jr. in the eighth round. However, Eubank Jr. gradually asserted control, utilizing his sharp jab and precise punching, demonstrating superior stamina and experience as the fight progressed. Both fighters traded blows fiercely in the final round, but ultimately, Chris Eubank Jr. emerged victorious via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in his favor. Eubank Jr. expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I knew I was capable of that, I just needed someone to bring that out of me”.
Redemption in the Rematch and the Future of the Rivalry
The immediate aftermath of their first clash saw an undeniable demand for a rematch. The second chapter of the Eubank-Benn saga was officially announced for November 15, 2025, once again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. For this rematch, the fight was again contested at the 160-pound middleweight limit, with a 10-pound rehydration clause in effect. Notably, for the rematch, Chris Eubank Jr. successfully made weight, avoiding the penalties of their first encounter. Conor Benn, who had weighed in lighter for their first fight, actually tipped the scales at a career-biggest 159.4 lbs, slightly heavier than Eubank Jr. for the second bout.
The rematch saw a dominant performance from Conor Benn, who sought to avenge the sole loss on his professional record. Benn, with a record of 24 wins and 1 loss going into the fight, completely outclassed his rival over 12 one-sided rounds. He displayed a more clinical and disciplined approach, flowing with punches and bullying Eubank Jr. against the ropes. In a dramatic twelfth round, Benn came close to securing the knockout he craved, dropping Eubank Jr. heavily twice with shuddering combinations. Eubank Jr., who looked worn out and debilitated by his weight management and the rehydration clause, staggered to his feet just before the final bell. The judges’ scorecards reflected Benn’s overwhelming dominance, reading 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108 in his favor, securing a unanimous decision victory. Following his triumphant redemption, Benn declared the rivalry concluded, stating, “This is the end of the Benn-Eubank saga, over. Chris has twins coming and I have my boy, but this ends here”. With both fighters having secured a victory over the other, the future of this historic rivalry, at least for now, appears to have reached its definitive conclusion.
