Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn involved in fresh row just hours before seismic boxing fight

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn prepare for war

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 26/04/2025

- 08:04

All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more

The two men will lock horns at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight

The gloves are off in the latest row between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn ahead of their Saturday night showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Eubank's team have disputed Benn's choice of Everlast gloves containing horse hair.


Eddie Hearn, Benn's promoter, dismissed the concerns, telling The Sun: "They weren't happy about some horse hair. Every glove that is approved by the British Boxing Board of Control, the fighters are able to use."

However, Eubank's promoter Ben Shalom countered: "We have a contract that there's no horse hair in the gloves and that's it. So there cannot be horse hair in those gloves."

Chris Eubank Jr Conor Benn

The gloves are off in the latest row between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn ahead of their Saturday night showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

PA

British Boxing Board of Control chief Robert Smith has reportedly signed off on the gloves.

The drama comes 35 years after their fathers' first historic bout, adding generational weight to this middleweight grudge match.

The rivals will finally face off on Saturday night, though not without pre-fight chaos.

Tensions escalated when Eubank arrived an hour late to the weigh-in, only to miss the 160lb middleweight limit by half an ounce.

This marks the latest chapter in their turbulent rivalry, with both fighters' camps exchanging heated words in the final hours before the bell.

JUST IN: Man Utd and Liverpool among Premier League clubs blocking white men from applying for coach roles

Chris Eubank Jr Conor Benn

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will finally settle old scores on Saturday night

PA

The second-generation showdown has been years in the making, with boxing fans eagerly anticipating this continuation of the Eubank-Benn legacy.

Eubank's weight miss has proven costly, with £375,000 now deducted from his purse and transferred directly to Benn.

The fine was triggered automatically as per their contract terms after Eubank weighed in at 160.05lb.

In contrast, Benn came in surprisingly light at 156.4lbs, nearly 4lb under the middleweight limit.

READ MORE:Eni Aluko issues apology to Ian Wright over claims Arsenal legend 'blocks females' from punditry

Hearn criticised Eubank's professionalism, saying: "He's talked a lot about his professionalism, his dedication and he is a stubborn b*d.

"I just thought he would make championship weight."

He added: "I don't think that the half ounce will have any say in the fight at all but obviously there was a substantial fine."

The 2022 bout between the rivals was originally scheduled at a 157lb catchweight, causing controversy as Eubank had never fought that low.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

DAZN Logo

Stream the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn boxing match live from any device anywhere in the world via DAZN. Pay the one-off fee to unlock the Fatal Fury fight from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, DAZN will gift either a 7-day or one-month trial of its complete sports streaming service at no cost. You can also unlock the Pay-Per-View boxing match via Sky Sports Box Office.

Fatal Fury Box Office
£19.95

That fight was cancelled days before when Benn tested positive for clomiphene, a banned substance known to boost testosterone.

Benn maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal and took his career to America, securing two wins at light-middleweight.

UK Anti-Doping eventually dropped their case against him, allowing his return to British rings.

Following the doping scandal, Eubank refused to make weight concessions for the rescheduled fight, insisting on the full 160lb middleweight limit.

Chris Eubank Jr

Eddie Hearn has criticised Chris Eubank Jr's professionalism ahead of tonight's fight with Conor Benn

PA

This history has only intensified the bad blood between the camps.

Both fighters must adhere to a 10lb rehydration clause, limiting them to 170lb on the morning of the fight.

Any breach of this limit will result in a £100,000 fine for each pound over.

Hearn suggested the weight drama has shifted momentum towards his fighter, stating: "Like right now Conor Benn's on top of the world and Chris Eubank Jr is probably fuming, so it all helps."