Chris Eubank Jr has pledged to deliver a contender for ‘fight of the decade’ in his rematch with Conor Benn this Saturday. The pair met at the ceremonial weigh-in at York Hall, Bethnal Green, where Eubank appeared composed and Benn looked fired up, saying he feels more controlled after their first meeting in April.
Eubank insisted a knockout is coming, calling boxing his life and saying he was ready to show the world again. He described the April clash as a fight-of-the-year candidate and said this second meeting will raise the stakes even higher.
Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, who dominated headlines at Thursday’s news conference, did not appear onstage for the weigh-in. Officials conducted the formal weigh-in behind closed doors on Friday morning, with both fighters recorded at 11st 5lb (72kg). During the public ceremony the promoter, Eddie Hearn, put different numbers on the ceremonial scales: he announced Benn at 11st 13lb (76kg) and Eubank two pounds lighter. Both men are subject to a rehydration clause preventing them from exceeding 12st 1lb (77kg) on Saturday morning.
There had been suggestions ticket sales for the rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were slower than expected, but the weigh-in event was standing-room only with queues stretching around the corner. Eubank held Benn back a few minutes before they were presented, and both fighters received warm applause when they walked out.
The build-up to this rematch has been calmer than earlier in the year, when incidents such as Eubank throwing an egg at Benn and a marginal weight miss before the first fight grabbed headlines. While tension remains, the bruising nature of their first bout seems to have tempered some of the theatrics.
Benn said he is focused on redemption and that weight concerns do not worry him: he described himself as a welterweight willing to come in heavier for this fight. The rehydration clause — which limits fighters to roughly a 10lb gain between the official weigh-in and fight morning — is intended to reduce any size advantage, an issue that has been highlighted because Benn moved up two divisions for the contest.
In April Eubank missed the middleweight limit by 0.05lb at the weigh-in but was comfortably inside the rehydration limit the next day. Fighters commonly lose body fat and briefly dehydrate to make the contracted weight, then refuel and rehydrate before the fight. Eubank has said he typically adds about 14lb after a weigh-in.
