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Tony Bellew has defended Chris Eubank Jr after the boxing star was hit with a huge fine of £375,000 ahead of tonight's bout with Conor Benn.
The two men, who don't get on whatsoever, will do battle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight.
However, there was controversy on Friday when Eubank Jr failed to make weight - with the 35-year-old weighing in heavier than the agreed limit of 160lb.
Eubank Jr initially tipped the scales at 160.2lb, before then trying again. His second weight was recorded as 160lb.
Boxing news: Tony Bellew has defended Chris Eubank Jr after the star was hit with a huge fine of £375,000 ahead of tonight's bout with Conor Benn
PA
Some, including Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn, have criticised the fighter for failing to meet the criteria required.
But Bellew, speaking to the Daily Mail, has now defended the 35-year-old and insisted he couldn't have done anything more.
"I haven't seen any pictures of him yet so I don't know what he looks like," he said.
"But what I would say is that when you miss weight by such a small margin like that and the repercussions are as heavy as they are, that tells you that he could not possibly get any more off.
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"He's a seriously dedicated young man, no one can ever take that away from him and he's tried his very best so fair play to him.
"I'm not his biggest fan, he's not mine, but I do admire what he goes through and the approach that he has.
"I just know how hard it would have been to get that off, he can't, his body has gone into shutdown.
"I had it at light heavyweight when I used to make 175lbs, it's the hardest thing you will ever do.
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Tomorrow night is going to be something special. Just wait & see #EubankBenn pic.twitter.com/iqxT8dOoV2
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) April 25, 2025
"And once the body shuts down the only way to do it is drag it out. He could go on a treadmill for five miles and not lose a single ounce. He would have to go into a really hot bath full of salt - you have to draw it out of your body."
It'll be intriguing to see how tonight's fight plays out.
Both men have long loathed each other, having first originally intended to do battle back in 2022.
On that occasion, however, the fight was pushed back after Benn failed a drugs test - with the 28-year-old since clearing his name.
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Eubank Jr has shrugged off the controversy involving his weight. Speaking on Friday, he said: "It is what is. If they'll take half a million off me for being half an ounce over, then that's the people Eddie Hearn, Matchroom and Conor Benn are.
"Weight has no relevance to what happens tomorrow night. I'm going to go in there and stop this guy."
As for Benn, the boxing star has no sympathy for his opponent.
"It's an expensive price to pay but he's disciplined and should have made the weight," he said.
Boxing news: Chris Eubank Jr remains hopeful of beating Conor Benn despite failing to make weight
PA
"He's expecting sympathy but won't get any sympathy around here.
"I'm a 147 fighter so I'll go in there and use my speed, my ferocity.
"I don't know if I'm supposed to look scared, intimidated. I'm neither. I'm just looking forward to Saturday.
"I'm here to take his head clean off."
