Chris Eubank Jr made weight at the second weigh-in for his blockbuster fight with Conor Benn after a lengthy delay on Saturday.
The Brighton boxer’s team claimed he was still asleep hours after both fighters were expected to tip the scales around 8am this morning.
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It came after Eubank Jr missed Friday’s 160lb limit by less than an ounce, landing him a $500,000 fine.
As per the rehydration clause in their fight contract, both men were allowed to gain 10lbs before Saturday’s second weight check.
Benn, who is climbing two divisions to meet Eubank at middleweight, arrived around 8am and weighed in at 165lbs, gaining 8.6lbs from his Friday weight of 156.4lbs.
For hours, Eubank Jr was nowhere to be seen, causing speculation that he was struggling to get inside the 170lb limit.
READ MORE ON EUBANK JR VS BENN
Fans have been concerned about the fight after Eubank Jr posted an alarming video of his weight cut on Friday.
However, Ring Magazine now reports the 35-year-old weighed in at 169.4lbs shortly before 10am, in line with the rehydration agreement.
It means Eubank Jr has avoided another hefty fine, having already paid $600,000 directly into Benn’s pocket.
The $500k fine on Friday followed a $100k penalty for smashing an egg on Benn’s face at a media event.
In a recent interview, Eubank Jr suggested he would have to pay $1m if he did not meet the terms of their rehydration agreement.
“They are paying me a separate fee to restrict my weight gain and rehydration,” he said. “I was never going to do it for free.
“I can change my mind at any time but it will cost me a substantial amount of money. I don’t want to lose $1m so I’m pretty sure I’m going to stick to it.”
Despite struggling with the weight restrictions, Eubank Jr remains the favourite to win the grudge match as the naturally bigger man.
When asked about the fine he received on Friday, Eubank Jr said: “It is what it is. If they are going to take half a million off me for being 0.5 [ounces] off of the limit, then it is what it is.
“That is the people that Eddie Hearn, Matchroom and Conor Benn are.
“At the end of the day, weight has no relevance to what happens tomorrow night.
“I’m going to go out there a stop this guy…
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“The rehydration clause is still in play, so I have to watch what I eat and what I drink, but again, all these things are set up to distract, to get me off track. None of it will work…
“He’s in for a hell of a surprise, he thinks he is going to go out there and hop, skip and [land] a right hand as he says.
“But he has no idea the pain that is in store for him tomorrow night.”
The pair were originally due to meet at 157lbs in 2022 before Benn failed a drugs test.
Their clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium comes over 30 years after their fathers – Chris Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn – starred in a famous rivalry during the 1990s.
Eubank Snr will not be in his son’s corner after a public breakdown in their relationship.
Eubank Jr v Benn Live on talkSPORT
More than 30 years after their dads fought each other, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn finally meet in the ring.
The fight will be LIVE on talkSPORT on Saturday 26 April from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Steve Collins, who beat both Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, is part of talkSPORT’s team and will join Adam Catterall, Gareth A Davies, Spencer Oliver and John Rawling for commentary on fight night.
You can also catch the action on talkBOXING’s YouTube Watchalong.
