Chris Eubank Jr. faced a reported $500,000 fine after missing weight ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The bout, a generational grudge match, eventually took place on April 26, 2025, with Eubank Jr. securing a unanimous decision victory.
The 35-year-old Eubank Jr. arrived late to the scheduled official weigh-in on April 25, 2025, and made two attempts to hit the 160lb middleweight limit. His second try fell just short at 160.05lbs, exceeding the limit by a mere 0.05 pounds. This marginal miss resulted in a substantial fine of £375,000, equivalent to approximately $500,000, which was paid to his bitter rival Conor Benn. Both fighters proceeded with a ceremonial weigh-in later that afternoon, under the watchful eyes of the boxing world.
The fight contract also included a stringent clause preventing Eubank Jr. from weighing over 170lbs at Saturday morning’s rehydration check, with a further hefty fine in place if he exceeded this limit. Eubank Jr. successfully adhered to this rehydration clause, weighing in at 169.4lbs, while Benn, who comfortably made the initial 160lb limit at 156.4lbs, weighed 165lbs at the rehydration check.
According to reports from Mike Coppinger, the full amount of the fine for missing weight went directly to Conor Benn. Eubank Jr. had already faced a fine of £100,000 from the British Boxing Board of Control for a press conference incident earlier in 2025, where he hit Benn in the face with an egg during their face-off. This stunt was a provocative reference to the WBC’s independent report from February 2023, which suggested that Benn’s earlier failed drug tests in 2022 could have been caused by “highly elevated consumption of eggs.”
The Road to the Rescheduled Grudge Match
The April 2025 encounter was not the first attempt to stage this highly anticipated fight. The rivalry between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn is deeply rooted in their fathers’ legendary clashes in the 1990s. The sons were originally scheduled to meet on October 8, 2022, at The O2 Arena in London at a catchweight of 157lbs. However, that bout was dramatically postponed just days beforehand after Benn tested positive for clomifene, a banned fertility drug, in two separate Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) tests. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) prohibited Benn from participating, deeming it “not in the interests of Boxing.”
Following a period of suspension and an appeal, Benn was eventually cleared to fight in the UK in 2023. Before the April 2025 fight, Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3, 25 KOs) had been active, including a loss and a rematch victory against Liam Smith in 2023, and a seventh-round knockout win over Kamil Szeremeta in October 2024, where he claimed the vacant IBO Middleweight title. Conor Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) had returned to the ring in the US, securing unanimous decision victories over Rodolfo Orozco in September 2023 and Peter Dobson in February 2024, maintaining his undefeated record.
Conor Benn Demands Smaller Ring for Chris Eubank Jr Clash
Adding another layer of intrigue to the build-up, Conor Benn had demanded a smaller ring for his showdown with rival Chris Eubank Jr., with the two fighters set to meet in a contracted 18-foot ring. This was a departure from the standard 20-foot ring size. Benn, a natural welterweight moving up two weight divisions to middleweight for this contest, strategically requested the smaller canvas to limit Eubank Jr.’s movement and force a more aggressive, close-quarters battle.
“The only thing I asked for in my contract was an eighteen foot ring so let that tell you how I’m feeling,” Benn told Sky Sports Boxing. He continued, “He ain’t going to be ready for whats coming anyway, so you want to sit here and say am I coming in there to steamroll him of course I am, you think im coming I’m there to muck about, you don’t get paid for overtime.”
“It’s not a matter of let’s have a little move around, come and meet me in the middle then, thats just how I am. Thats my sort of mentality going into any fight and every fight.” Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, acknowledged that while the smaller ring was requested by Benn’s team, it could also potentially suit Eubank Jr. if he chose to engage in a slugfest.
The Fight and Its Aftermath
The highly anticipated “Fatal Fury” bout, as it was billed, took place on April 26, 2025, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3, 25 KOs at the time) faced Conor Benn (23-0, 14 KOs at the time) in a middleweight contest that lived up to its billing as a frenetic and violent brawl. Eubank Jr., the naturally bigger and more experienced fighter, secured a unanimous decision victory over Benn, with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112 in his favour.
Despite the clear decision, the fight was a grueling affair. Eubank Jr. was wobbled on several occasions, but Benn’s aggression was often too wild to inflict conclusive damage. Eubank Jr. landed more effective blows, often in clubbing combinations, and had Benn on the brink of being stopped in the final minute. Both fighters displayed immense courage, with Eubank Jr. pouring on pressure despite a cut eye and swollen face. The victory marked Benn’s first professional defeat.
The intense weight cut and rehydration clause took a toll on Eubank Jr., who was admitted to the hospital for two nights following the fight due to severe dehydration. Benn was also taken to the hospital but was discharged the same night. The controversy surrounding the rehydration clause led Eubank Jr.’s promoter, Ben Shalom, to advocate for such clauses to be banned from boxing, citing concerns for fighter safety.
The Rematch and Future Implications
The rivalry was far from over, as a rematch was contractually agreed upon and subsequently announced. Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn met again on November 15, 2025, once more at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In a dramatic turn of events, Conor Benn avenged his earlier loss, dominating Eubank Jr. throughout the rematch and securing a unanimous decision victory. The judges’ scorecards read 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108, with Benn notably dropping Eubank Jr. twice in the twelfth round.
After the rematch, Benn declared the rivalry concluded, stating, “This is the end of the Benn-Eubank saga, over.” With his record standing at 24 wins and 1 loss (14 KOs) after the rematch, Benn expressed his desire to move back down to the welterweight division to pursue a world title. Chris Eubank Jr.’s record after the two bouts stands at 35 wins and 5 losses (25 KOs). The two fights between Eubank Jr. and Benn, particularly the first, have been hailed as instant British classics, showcasing the enduring appeal of their family rivalry and leaving a significant mark on the middleweight and welterweight divisions.
