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Promoter Eddie Hearn says new information tells him Chris Eubank Jr ‘probably shouldn’t have been in the ring’ for his rematch against Conor Benn.
Before their first fight, much of the talk surrounded whether Benn, who had campaigned at welterweight aside from a stateside foray at super-welterweight, could compete as a middleweight against Eubank – who has boxed as high as super-middleweight.
However, as fight night approached, it quickly became clear that the 160lb limit, and 10lb rehydration clause, was more of an issue for Eubank, who managed to overcome that hardship to claim a unanimous decision win last April.
In their rematch, the same terms were agreed and, once again, Eubank boiled himself down, whilst Benn had additional time to build himself up. That showed on the night, as Eubank looked a shadow of himself and was beaten with ease; twice dropped in the final round but surviving to hear the final bell to lose a lopsided decision.
Now, speaking with iFL TV, Hearn, Benn’s promoter at the time, has recognised the impact that the weight cut had on Eubank, believing that the Sussex-born contender was not fit to fight.
“One thing that I have understood and one thing that I know, listen, this is part of the game and it was part of an edge in that fight, is we know that making that weight for that fight was extremely difficult for Chris Eubank, I know that.
“My job at the time, unfortunately, was to always make sure that Conor Benn had the edge. To make sure that my guy would come through. I am not saying that the weight stipulations were unfair, because that is what was negotiated, but I will tell you is that, physically, it was to the detriment of Chris Eubank.
“What I know now is that, medically, going into that fight, he probably shouldn’t have been in the ring. And it’s easy at the time, when you are on the other side, to look at it as an excuse. But, I actually know now that what he did to get in that ring was quite remarkable.”
Benn and Hearn parted ways earlier this year, with ‘The Destroyer’ now set for a shot at Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight world title. Meanwhile, Eubank is being linked to a clash with Australia’s Michael Zerafa, mooted to be set at a 164lb catchweight.
