Just in case Chris Eubank Jr’s fight with Conor Benn needed any added theatricality, the rehydration clause imposed for the contest has been causing more controversy and drawing more headlines.
Eubank Jr has pictured himself chomping on fast food in order to quell concerns that weight stipulations and the clause might hinder his attempt to beat Benn.
His father, Chris Eubank, waded into the debate to claim that he would pull his son out of the fight because of the clause, making himself an even more looming presence over proceedings following his own epic fights with Benn’s dad, Nigel, during the early 1990s.
The Sporting News has the details on what could prove a defining feature of the showdown at London’s O2 Arena on October 8.
WATCH: Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn on DAZN
What is the rehydration clause?
Boxing fans are well used to seeing fighters post pictures of themselves in saunas and even wrapped in foil in a race against time to make weight for fights.
After weigh-ins, rehydration clauses are often imposed so that boxers cannot pile on the pounds during the 36 hours or so before they enter the ring, potentially endangering their opponent by gaining a significant weight advantage in the process.
A weight increase of a mere two pounds has perhaps never been as costly for anyone as it was for Daniel Jacobs, who was fined $1 million in 2019 for weighing in that much over the limit for his clash with Canelo Alvarez.
What weight are Eubank Jr and Benn fighting at?
The pair are meeting at a catchweight of 157 lbs, with a measly maximum of five pounds allowed to be added before the starting bell.
That is around five-to-10 pounds less than fighters are usually allowed to rehydrate to – a reflection of the size difference between the men that has seen some critics voice concerns over the sporting validity and safety of the fight.
What a way to start the day @GMB & yes you can grab yourself a t shirt on fight night at the o2 😎 #EubankJrBenn pic.twitter.com/A9cfoEhcW4
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) September 30, 2022
Usually a welterweight, Benn has fought at a maximum of 147 lbs – 21 lbs lighter than Eubank Jr routinely does for super-middleweight contests.
Eubank Jr, then, will have to be six pounds less than he usually weighs in at when he throws his first punch at his adversary.
He has a limit of 157 lbs for the grudge match and would undoubtedly be keen to rise as close to his most comfortable size as possible in the absence of a rehydration clause.
What happens if Eubank Jr or Benn break the rehydration clause?
With 20,000 tickets sold for the arena and a potential audience of millions watching on DAZN around the world, it is unlikely that either fighter missing weight would cause the contest to be called off.
Reports have claimed that Eubank Jr and Benn stand to be fined $100,000 for each pound they weigh in over the limit for their fight.
“Two legends went into a ring thirty years ago and inspired a nation,” Eubank Jr said of the original fights, which saw his father win in 1990 and a split draw in 1993.
“They became superstars and etched their names into not just boxing history but British history. Now, 30 years later, their son, who have both made themselves in the sport of boxing, will get in the ring.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before – and I don’t think it will happen again, ever. That’s why I took this fight.
“We have to uphold those names to the best of our ability. That’s where it makes it personal for me. I must ensure the Eubank name stays on top of the Benn name.”
Speaking to Benn and addressing questions that have dogged the build-up to the fight over the weight criteria, Eubank Jr added: “If I’m at 100 percent, then it’s a public execution.
“I’ll be 60 percent on the night – and that’ll be enough to do whatever I want with you.”
What did Chris Eubank say about the rehydration rule for the fight?
Rarely one to hold back, Eubank Sr made his views on the clause clear when he dramatically pledged to pull his son from the scrap.
In expressing his reservations, the 56-year-old referenced the tragic death of his son Sebastian on a beach in Dubai at the age of 29 in 2021.
He went on to cite the cases of Michael Watson, who suffered life-changing injuries in a fight with Eubank in 1991, Gerald McClellan, who was left brain-damaged by a bout with Benn in 1999, and Nick Blackwell, the former British champion who retired after being put into a coma following his fight with Eubank Jr in 2016.
“My son’s life cannot be put in danger,” Eubank told the Daily Mail. “I’ve already lost one. It can’t happen again.
“I gave my son his instructions and he chose to follow a different [path]… but he can’t override his dad. Because his dad is speaking sense and who will back me up? The public.
Finding it hard to lose these last few lbs so I’ve decided to get a nutritionist in for my last week of weight cut before the fight this Saturday #SaltBae #60PercentBae #EubankJrBenn pic.twitter.com/zCxPBpBkFh
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) October 2, 2022
“When they understand: I lost a son, Michael Watson happened, Gerald McClellan happened, Nick Blackwell happened, and the many warriors who have fallen or are disabled because of contests in the ring.
“You cannot come down in weight – especially against a fighter of the magnitude of Mr King, Conor Benn. This ain’t no joke.”
Jokes are exactly what Eubank Jr has been making in the build-up to the fight. A day before fight week, the 32-year-old posted a video being fed a steak off a knife by Nusret Gokce, a Turkish butcher, chef, food entertainer and restaurateur with the nickname ‘Salt Bae’ who has more than 48.2 million Instagram followers.
“Finding it hard to lose these last few pounds,” said Eubank Jr, portraying himself adding salt to the steak in the video.
“So I’ve decided to get a nutritionist in for my last week of weight cut before the fight this Saturday.”
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