British middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr has been hit with a £10,000 fine by the sport`s governing body in the UK, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC).
The financial penalty, handed down by the Board`s Southern Area Council following a recent hearing, stems from an investigation into Eubank Jr`s conduct surrounding his weight-making process for his contest against Conor Benn back in April.
At the core of the issue was Eubank Jr`s activity on social media. Prior to the fight, footage appeared online, posted by Eubank Jr himself, which seemingly depicted him utilizing a sauna. In professional boxing, rapid weight cutting methods like excessive sauna use close to a weigh-in are viewed critically by regulatory bodies due to the potential health risks associated with severe dehydration.
For the Benn bout, Eubank Jr was contracted to weigh in at 160 pounds, a target he narrowly missed at the official scale by 0.05 pounds, coming in at 160.05 lbs. There was also a rehydration clause stipulating he could be no more than 10 pounds heavier on the morning of the fight, a condition he successfully met.
The BBBoC`s inquiry specifically examined the social media content suggesting sauna use. Based on evidence presented by Eubank Jr and his team, the Board ultimately determined that he was *not* guilty of actually using a sauna on the day of the weigh-in itself. However, this did not absolve him completely.
The Council found Mr. Eubank Jr to be in breach of Regulation 25, citing “misuse of social media.” It seems that merely giving the *impression* of engaging in potentially unsafe practices, regardless of whether the specific act occurred exactly as depicted or when, was enough to warrant disciplinary action. One might observe that in the age of digital content, perception can carry a cost, sometimes a significant one.
In addition to the £10,000 fine, Eubank Jr also received a “severe reprimand” placed on his file. This secondary penalty was issued for his late arrival at the official weigh-in ceremony for the Benn fight.
Crucially, the fine is not merely a historical footnote. The BBBoC has stipulated that Mr. Eubank Jr must pay the £10,000 penalty before his license will be granted for his upcoming fight – which, perhaps predictably, is the highly anticipated rematch against Conor Benn, currently scheduled for September 20.
The scrutiny around Eubank Jr`s weight management is amplified by the fact that he was reportedly hospitalized after the first Benn fight, primarily due to dehydration issues. This incident underscores the very real dangers associated with demanding weight limits and aggressive cutting procedures, making the appearance of cutting corners particularly concerning to regulators.
Interestingly, this £10,000 penalty for a social media post *suggesting* a questionable weight-cutting method pales in comparison to a previous fine Eubank Jr received from the Board: a reported £100,000 for playfully (or provocatively, depending on your view) slapping Conor Benn with an egg during a promotional press conference. One can only speculate on the Board`s internal hierarchy of regulatory offenses – seemingly, airborne breakfast items carry ten times the financial weight of suggestive sauna selfies.
As the date for the rematch looms, Chris Eubank Jr must now settle his accounts with the BBBoC. This includes not only navigating the strict weight requirements for the fight itself but also ensuring his public persona, particularly online, adheres to the Board`s standards. Perhaps a lesson learned: sometimes, it`s not just what you do, but what you post about it.
Murray Blackwood