Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn was in jeopardy as Eubank missed his scheduled weigh-in just a day before his highly anticipated grudge match against Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Eubank was scheduled to attend the official weigh-in at 11am but failed to appear more than an hour later, casting serious doubt over what was billed as one of the biggest fights in British boxing that year.
Benn successfully made the official weigh-in at 156.4lbs ahead of Saturday night’s clash, the highest weight of his career for ‘The Destroyer’.
Weight had been a major talking point in the lead-up to the clash, with Eubank subject to a 10lb rehydration clause and Benn jumping two weight divisions from his usual welterweight limit up to middleweight, for this explosive family feud.
The Long Road to the Ring: Cancellations and Controversies
The highly anticipated bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, a generational grudge match echoing their fathers’ iconic rivalry, had a tumultuous journey to actually taking place. The initial fight was scheduled for October 8, 2022, at The O2 Arena in London. However, just days before the event, it was dramatically cancelled after Conor Benn tested positive for clomifene, a female fertility drug that can also boost testosterone in men, in two Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) tests conducted in July and September 2022. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) subsequently prohibited the fight, stating it was “not in the interests of boxing.”
Despite initial claims from promoters that the bout would proceed, the cancellation was confirmed, with Benn maintaining his innocence and suggesting contamination, possibly from egg consumption, as the cause of the adverse findings. Benn’s British boxing license was relinquished, and he faced a provisional suspension from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). After a lengthy process, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADA) eventually lifted Benn’s suspension in July 2023, a decision that was appealed but ultimately upheld in November 2024, clearing him to resume his career and fight in the UK.
Weigh-in Drama and Contractual Penalties
The rescheduled fight, which is the subject of the original article, finally took place on April 26, 2025, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The weigh-in for this bout was not without its own drama. Chris Eubank Jr. arrived an hour late for the official weigh-in and failed to make the contracted 160lb middleweight limit on two attempts, initially weighing 160.2 lbs and then 160.05 lbs, just 0.05 lbs over. This minor miss triggered a significant contractual penalty, resulting in Eubank Jr. being fined £375,000 (approximately $500,000), which was paid directly to Conor Benn.
Conor Benn, a natural welterweight, comfortably made the weight at 156.4 lbs. A crucial element of the fight contract was a 10lb rehydration clause, stipulating that neither fighter could weigh more than 170lbs on the morning of the fight. This clause was particularly challenging for Eubank Jr., who typically fights at middleweight or even super-middleweight, as it limited his ability to rehydrate fully after a significant weight cut. On fight morning, Eubank Jr. weighed in at 169.4 lbs, adhering to the clause, while Benn was 165 lbs.
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Eddie Hearn Says Benn Is In Perfect Condition
Matchroom Boxing and Conor Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, voiced his frustration over Chris Eubank Jr’s failure to appear for his scheduled weigh-in on Friday afternoon.
“Chris was supposed to be here at eleven, he asked for the weigh-in to be earlier and now he’s late and we know what that means,” said Hearn to IFL TV.
“Sometimes when you wake up you think you’ll get your work done to be ready for ten and then all of the sudden it ain’t quite come off and you have to give it a little bit more time and thats probably whats happened.”
“Conor weighed 156.4, he trained this morning and thats the perfect weight for him, I didn’t want him to eat his weight up to 160 or just go and have a big breakfast, he’s at his absolute athletic optimum.”
“Tomorrow night he will be 162 in the ring and Eubank will be 176 and well be giving away a stone and when we knock him out it will be an even bigger win because of the size difference.”
Eubank Jr is bound by a 10lb rehydration clause in his contract and faces a hefty financial penalty if he exceeds the limit on the morning of the fight.
The Fights and Their Aftermath: A Split Rivalry
Despite the pre-fight controversies and weigh-in drama, the first bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn on April 26, 2025, delivered a dramatic and competitive twelve-round contest. Ultimately, Chris Eubank Jr. emerged victorious, winning by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112 in his favour. Following the gruelling encounter, Eubank Jr. reportedly spent two nights in hospital recovering from severe dehydration and claimed to have undergone eye surgery after being “headbutted” during the fight. Benn was also taken to hospital but was discharged the same night.
The intense rivalry and the thrilling nature of their first encounter quickly led to calls for a rematch. Initially slated for September 20, 2025, the rematch was postponed to November 15, 2025, at the same venue, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, reportedly due to Eubank Jr. not feeling ready for the earlier date. For the rematch, both fighters successfully made the 160lb limit without incident, with Eubank Jr. weighing 159.1 lbs and Benn surprisingly coming in slightly heavier at 159.3 lbs. The 10lb rehydration clause remained in effect, and both fighters adhered to it on fight morning.
In the highly anticipated second fight on November 15, 2025, Conor Benn delivered a dominant performance, securing a unanimous decision victory over Chris Eubank Jr. Benn notably dropped Eubank Jr. twice in the twelfth and final round, sealing a comprehensive win with scorecards reading 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108. After avenging his earlier defeat and levelling the score in their two-fight saga, Benn declared the rivalry concluded.
As of November 2025, Chris Eubank Jr. holds a professional record of 35 wins and 4 losses, with 25 knockouts, primarily competing at middleweight and super-middleweight. Conor Benn’s record stands at 25 wins and 1 loss, with 14 knockouts, having successfully moved up from his natural welterweight division for these high-stakes encounters. The split decisions in their two bouts have left a lasting mark on both fighters’ careers and the ongoing narrative of their families’ boxing legacies.
