Chris Eubank Jr has been fined a staggering £375,000 after narrowly missing the agreed weight limit for Saturday’s showdown with Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The British middleweight came in just 0.05lb over the 11st 6lb mark — despite two weigh-in attempts — and now faces financial penalties and added pressure ahead of the high-stakes clash.
Eubank, 35, tipped the scales at 0.2lb over the limit in his second attempt, failing to make the contracted weight under a strict agreement that includes a rehydration clause. This clause prevents either fighter from weighing more than 12st 1lb on fight day — a move designed to ensure a fair contest between two fighters from different weight divisions.
Conor Benn, naturally a welterweight, weighed in at a surprising 11st 2lb and quickly seized the moment with a cheeky jab at his opponent. “Show me the money,” he quipped in a viral social media video, clearly referencing Eubank’s costly slip-up.
Despite the fine, both fighters are still set to pocket massive purses from the blockbuster bout, which revives a decades-old family rivalry. Their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, famously fought twice in the 1990s, and this generational sequel has reignited the hype — and the heat.
The official weigh-in took place privately at a London hotel, but Eubank later posted a motivational video captioned, “Pain is temporary… glory is forever,” showing him sweating profusely in a sauna suit, visibly struggling to shed the final ounces.
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A ceremonial weigh-in open to the public is set for Friday evening in Islington, building anticipation ahead of the main event. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed both fighters will step on the scales again around 08:00 BST on Saturday. Should Eubank miss the rehydration weight limit again, further financial penalties could follow.
Eubank’s weight management has dominated headlines throughout fight week, with speculation swirling after he arrived an hour late to the Friday weigh-in slot. At Thursday’s press conference, Benn taunted him with a sharp insult: “fat boy.” Promoter Eddie Hearn also expressed doubts about Eubank making the middleweight limit.
Adding to the narrative, Eubank was previously fined £100,000 in February for slapping Benn with an egg during a media event. He also voluntarily paid £50,000 in compensation to fighters affected by the cancellation of their 2022 bout — a fight that was shelved after Benn failed a drug test.
Now, with history, legacy, and reputation on the line, all eyes are on Saturday’s explosive showdown. The stage is set, the stakes are sky-high, and the drama has already begun.
