Chris Eubank Jr is unlikely to meet the catchweight of 157lbs for his fight against Conor Benn and is already preparing to take a financial hit for coming in over that limit, according to former world champion Johnny Nelson.
The showdown between the sons of British boxing royalty was agreed at its catchweight in the summer, with welterweight sensation Benn packing on 10lbs for Saturday’s clash at the O2 Arena.
Eubank Jr is required to drop down from 160lbs where he has campaigned as a middleweight for much of his career, having also fought at super-middleweight [168lb] as recently as 2019.
Eubank Jr faces the possibility of being fined should he come in over 157lbs while Benn’s trainer Tony Sims has revealed they have a ‘cancellation policy’ should he tip the scales 158.5lbs or more. In addition to the weight cut, Eubank Jr is barred from rehydrating above a certain undisclosed weight on the morning of their fight.
The Brighton fighter has suggested the weight limit will mean he can only operate at 60 per cent of his normal levels on the night but insists it will still be enough to comfortably put away Benn – wearing a t-shirt bearing that figure in his latest attempt to get inside his opponent’s head last week.
His father, Chris Eubank Snr, has expressed grave concerns over his son dropping the weight however, threatening to pull him out of the fight last month.
Eubank Jnr has persistently made light of the catchweight demands in the weeks counting down to fight night, sharing footage of himself feasting on a KFC bucket and burgers during fight camp.
With the two fighters set to hit the scales on Friday afternoon, former cruiserweight champion Nelson has doubts over the contest going ahead at the agreed catchweight but is
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