Boxing

CONOR BENN’S trainer Tony Sims is already fearing if Chris Eubank Jr will make their 157lb catchweight limit. Benn and Eubank are set for a DAZN pay-per-view blockbuster on October 8 at the O2 Arena, almost 30 years after their dads’ famous rematch.
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn ahead of their catchweight clashCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Due to their size disparity, the born rivals have agreed to meet between weight divisions.
They came face to face for the first time since the fight announcement and eyed each other on stage at the press conference.
But it left esteemed British coach Sims already questioning if Eubank Jr can shave off the additional pounds.
And that would threaten to cancel the fight for the ages due to a clause in the contract prohibiting either from weighing in at 158.5lb.
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Sims told SunSport: “I’m just worried, looking at Eubank today, whether he can make the 157. He looked quite heavy.
“Let’s hope that he does because there’s a clause in the contract that if he goes to 158.5 then the fight could be off.
“I’m just hoping that he comes in, he said he can make the weight, he put it to us about being 157. So let’s hope he does.”
Benn, 25, will have to jump up 10lb from his usual 147lb weight class, where he is unbeaten in 21 fights with 14 knockouts.
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Eubank Jr, 32, on the other hand is a career middleweight at 160lb, who has even campaigned as high as 168lb.
Despite Benn needing to bulk up in size, Sims actually wants the rising prospect to weigh in UNDER the 157lb limit.
He said: “You’d like to have done it at 154 in an ideal world but there’s no such thing as an ideal world.
“Eubank’s people came to us with 157, and when I summarised it, he’s got to get down to 157.
“But that only evens it up as Conor’s got to go up to 157. He probably won’t even go up to 157 on the weigh in, he’ll probably be 155.
“So the fight evens out a little bit like that.”
Ronnie Davies, Chris Eubank Jr, Conor Benn, Eddie Hearn and Tony SimsCredit: Getty More

CHRIS EUBANK JR said a rehydration clause in his contract with Conor Benn has been put in place to avoid a “public execution”. The pair are set for a DAZN pay-per-view blockbuster on October 8, almost 30 years after their dads’ famous rematch.
Chris Eubank Jr will fight Conor Benn at a 157lb catchweightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Benn, 25, will have to jump up 10lb from his usual 147lb weight class with the the bout set at 157lb.
Eubank Jr, 32, on the other hand is a career middleweight at 160lb, who has even campaigned as high as 168lb.
The weight disparity has meant the two will meet between the 154lb light-middleweight and middleweight limit.
And due to Eubank’s superior size, a rehydration clause limiting him to what he can weigh the next morning has been put in place.
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Although the exact amount was not revealed live on stage as the fighting sons came face-to-face in London ahead of the fight.
And Eubank Jr said: “I can’t be 100 per cent when I have to go down to a weight I’ve never been to and then I can’t rehydrate fully.
“That’s fair, because if I’m 100 per cent it’s a public execution, I have to be at a disadvantage to make the fight reasonable.
“I’ll be 60 per cent on the night, and that will be enough to do whatever I want with you.”
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It is believed both will be penalised $100,000 (£82,000) per 1lb they weigh in over, and if either are 158.5lb the fight is OFF.
Benn has continued to climb the welterweight rankings to build on a first world title shot.
Eubank Jr meanwhile has grown increasingly frustrated at his lack of championship opportunities.
So he turned his attention to Benn following their fathers’ iconic fights in the 1990s.
Eubank Sr won the first epic battle against arch nemesis Nigel, before they controversially drew three years later in 1993.
Benn regards his fight with Eubank Jr as a revenge mission and vows to get one back for his mentor father.
He said: “Dad had a draw the last fight, we know he should have won. I’m just going to go in there and handle business and I settle the score.”
Conor Benn at his press conference with Chris Eubank JrCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

CHRIS EUBANK JR wants his dad in the corner for his fight against Conor Benn – but first has to find him. The middleweight contender has had American legend Roy Jones Jr coaching him in his last three wins.
Chris Eubank Jr wants his dad in the corner for his fight against Conor BennCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And dad Sr has instead taken a back seat as No1 supporter opposed to cornerman.
But after the huge announcement he will fight Benn – 30 years after their fathers’ iconic rematch – Eubank Jr is ready to bring his dad back.
He told talkSPORT: “With this type of fight I would actually like my old man to be in the corner with me. I would, I would like that.
“I told Roy that he would be in my corner for the rest of my career, this is the one fight where I would have my old man there.
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“Just because of what this all means to us. But I don’t know if he wants to be in the corner, that’s the question.
“We have to find out where his head is at with that and from there we’ll decide what to do.”
The only problem is, British boxing icon Sr has not been heard of since the news of the catchweight clash.
Eubank Jr said: “Since the fight’s been announced I haven’t actually heard from him, which is amazing to say.
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“Especially early in my career he was there front and centre for all my fights. At the press conferences, at the weigh-ins, in the corner.
“And for the biggest fight of my career, he’s gone missing. It’s incredible to say, but that’s what’s happened.
“I’m waiting for that phone call, I’m waiting for him to walk through the door and say, ‘Okay son, let’s do this.’
“It’s interesting, but we’ll get there eventually and we’ll figure it out.”
The family feud will be renewed on October 8 at the O2 Arena.

The bout is believed to be set at 157lb, meaning Benn will have to jump up 10lb from his usual 147lb weight class.
Eubank Jr on the other hand is a career middleweight at 160lb, who has even campaigned as high as 168lb.
His dad won the first epic battle against arch nemesis Nigel, before they drew three years later in 1993.
A trilogy failed to materialise, leaving their prizefighter sons to renew the rivalry over three decades later.
And Benn also plans to draft in his dad and mentor for inspiration in the camp.
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He said: “Listen, dad’s been driving me mad every single day. He says, ‘When am I coming over? When am I coming over?’
“My dad’s an unbelievable character to have in the gym.”
Nigel Benn will help train son Conor to fight Chris Eubank JrCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More