The upcoming rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, currently slated for September 20, has received crucial clearance regarding its weight parameters. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), the sport`s governing body in the UK, has confirmed it holds no objection to the proposed 160lb (middleweight) limit for the highly anticipated second encounter.
This regulatory nod arrives following considerable scrutiny surrounding the weight cut for their initial fight. Eubank Jr visibly struggled during that period, later revealing he required hospitalization due to dehydration after making the contractual weight. Adding to the drama, he marginally missed the 160lb mark at the official weigh-in, a delay reportedly contributing to the issue. More significantly, Eubank Jr courted controversy by posting footage on social media that appeared to show him using a sauna shortly before the weigh-in – a practice medical professionals strongly advise against for rapid weight reduction.
The BBBoC subsequently addressed this social media incident. General Secretary Robert Smith clarified the disciplinary action: Eubank Jr was fined £10,000, payable to the Board`s charity account, not for the minor weight infraction itself, but for the `misuse of social media`. Smith explained that Eubank Jr had declared on an official document submitted prior to the contest that he had *not* used a sauna. The social media post represented a direct contradiction to this formal declaration. Smith noted that Eubank Jr`s trainer had also confirmed no rapid weight-cutting measures were used, further highlighting the discrepancy between the fighter`s official statements and his public online activity. The fine, therefore, was a consequence of this inconsistency and the implied disregard for the Board`s medical guidelines and required declarations.
Regarding the slight weigh-in miss, Smith attributed it primarily to Eubank Jr`s late arrival. He remarked that Eubank Jr was only a “gnat`s whisker” over the limit and would likely have made weight comfortably had he appeared on time. This suggests the official oversight was more procedural than a fundamental failure to reach the fighting weight range.
The weight itself remains a point of discussion in the Eubank Jr vs. Benn pairing. Smith characterized Eubank Jr as being somewhat “caught in the middle” – a substantial middleweight but potentially undersized for the super-middleweight division where he has often competed. The 160lb limit for the rematch, identical to the first bout, appears acceptable to the Board as a result of this assessment and the lack of actual weight-making issues indicated by check weights.
Furthermore, the rematch is expected to include a rehydration clause, stipulating that fighters must not exceed a certain weight (reportedly 10lbs over the limit) on the morning of the fight. The BBBoC confirmed they have no issue with this condition either. Smith explained that while this is not a standard BBBoC rule, it aligns with practices seen in other governing bodies, such as the IBF with its sliding scale fight-day weigh-ins. In this instance, the clause is considered a private agreement between the promoters and the competing parties, one that the Board is comfortable allowing as long as both fighters adhere to it, as they did in the first fight.
Before they can step into the ring again in the UK, both Eubank Jr and Benn, having engaged in a tough initial contest, are currently medically suspended and must receive medical clearance. Additionally, Eubank Jr is required to settle the £10,000 fine to the BBBoC`s charity account before he can be granted a license to box in the UK. Until these conditions are met, his path back to fighting on home soil, regardless of the weight class approval, remains pending.
With the key regulatory hurdle concerning the fight weight cleared by the British Boxing Board of Control, the focus shifts back to the logistics and promotion of the rematch itself, set to reignite a compelling rivalry under specific, now-approved, physical parameters.
Murray Blackwood