Conor Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said at the post-fight press conference tonight that Chris Eubank Jr. should come down lower in weight for the rematch if there is one.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Hearn added that they need to think about whether to take the rematch with Eubank Jr. because he’s concerned that if Benn is in another fight like the one he had tonight, it could shorten his career.
Eubank Jr. beat Benn by a 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday night in their main event fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Benn started well, but folded when Eubank Jr. began imposing his size, pressure, and volume punching on him.
The Scores
116-112
116-112
116-112
Conor didn’t have the offensive or defensive skills to cope with being attacked relentlessly by Eubank Jr. The last four rounds, eight through twelve, were a pure route in Eubank Jr’s favor.
Slim Chance?
The chances of Hearn getting Chris Jr. to drain down further than 160 are slim and none. He’s not going to do it unless Turki Alalashikh offers him a huge amount of money, but why would he?
If Hearn feels Benn needs handicaps to fight Eubank Jr., he should return to 147 and take his chances against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Brian Norman Jr., or Karen Chukhadzhian.
Hearn didn’t say how far below the 160-lb middleweight limit he wants Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs). He’d likely want him to go as low as possible to give Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) an additional handicap to go along with the 10-lb rehydration clause.
“For me, the danger wasn’t for Chris Eubank Jr. It was for Conor Benn,” said promoter Eddie Hearn at the post-fight press conference after Conor Benn’s loss to Chris Eubank Jr. on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
“That’s why we have to think very carefully about the rematch, because I don’t want to see him [Benn] in too many fights like that. They’re the kind of fights that will shorten your career, and he has such a long career ahead of him.
“So, the terms are already agreed for the rematch, and it’s the same as the first contract. Yeah, I think Junior should come down a little bit lower rather than Benn coming up two weight classes,” said Hearn when asked about if he would consider dropping the 10-lb rehydration clause for the rematch.
Benn’s Level
It’s questionable whether Benn has a career outside of his domestic family feud fights against Eubank Jr, because he lacks the talent to beat the top fighters at 147. It would get worse for him if he moved up to 154 or 160 against true world-class opposition.
The only reason tonight’s fight was close is that Eubank Jr. is 35, and no longer near his best. He was also weight-drained. The biggest reason it was close is that Eubank Jr. isn’t among the elite at 160. If Hearn had matched Conor Benn against any of these middleweights, he’d have been destroyed tonight:
– Janibek Alimkhnuly
– Carlos Adames
– Erislandy Lara
– Yoenli Hernandez
– Troy Isley
– Denzel Bentley
Last Updated on 04/26/2025
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