Chris Eubank Jnr’s weight-cutting methods to be examined by British Boxing Board of Control
Though the British Boxing Board of Control had “no concerns” with Chris Eubank Jnr’s weight in the buildup to his points victory over Conor Benn, the board was not amused by videos the fighter posted on social media after just failing to make the contractual limit of 160lbs.
The 35-year-old missed the middleweight limit by 0.05lbs, and Eubank, who had to pay Benn $500,000 for the failure, told the BBC on Friday that a request to urinate was rejected by Benn’s team. “They had an agenda,” Eubank said. “They wanted that money.”
“The problem arose because he was late for the weigh-in,” Robert Smith of the BBBoC told BS on Monday. “If he’d have got there on time, considering he was only slightly over, he’d have made weight.”
Benn weighed in just after 11 a.m. on Friday, but it would be another hour before Eubank arrived.
“I don’t know what they were doing,” Smith said. “But by turning up late, it meant he had very little time to get down to the contracted weight.”
As is standard procedure in Britain, the weights of Eubank and Benn were monitored throughout their training camps to ensure they were making weight sensibly. Prior to Friday’s weigh-in, both boxers were weighed on the Wednesday of fight week.
“We had no concerns,” said Smith. “Eubank was on track to make 160lbs. We keep records of previous fights, and the trajectory of Eubank’s weight loss was very similar to how it’s been in the past.”
Videos were posted on Eubank’s social media feeds that showed him emerging from a hot suit, emaciated and dripping in sweat. It is unknown exactly when they were filmed, but the BBBoC – which doesn’t allow boxers to use saunas or the equivalent to crash weight – will request more information from Eubank in the coming weeks.
“It is an ongoing matter,” Smith said.
