Preview and prediction for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Is it all about weight?
Will the ten pound rehydration clause impair Eubank Jr's performance?
Chris Eubank Jr takes on Conor Benn this Saturday and how each fighter makes weight could affect the result.
Eubank Jr (34-3, 25 KOs), who fought at 168 lbs from 2017 and 2019 has agreed to tip the scales at 160 lbs and then adhere to a ten pound rehydration clause on the day of the fight.
Meanwhile, Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) will have his first-ever fight at middleweight after primarily campaigning at 147 lbs throughout his career and super welterweight in his last two bouts.
But who will have the advantage when the first bell rings? The naturally bigger man in Eubank Jr who supposedly has to cut a lot of weight to avoid getting another fine or the smaller man in Benn who can eat more than usual in a bid to gain size?
After almost 15 years as a professional, it’s fair to say Eubank Jr is a more proven fighter than Benn.
The son of the legendary Chris Eubank Sr has never captured a world title from one of the four major sanctioning bodies, instead defeating Renold Quinlan in 2017 to capture the IBO Super Middleweight strap.
However, Eubank Jr has fought a range of opponents at world level, only losing to Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves, and Liam Smith who he then beat in a rematch.
Yet Eubank Jr’s first contest with Smith is a reminder of what could happen to the Brighton-born boxer if his weight cut isn’t completed in a healthy manner.
Despite never previously being dropped or knocked out, Eubank Jr was stopped by Smith in four rounds, which coincidentally came after the first scheduled fight with Benn was cancelled due to his adversary failing two drug tests.
Smith arguably landed on Eubank Jr with cleaner punches than any previous opponent.
But the rematch implied Eubank Jr wasn’t at his best because he dominated Smith over ten rounds to get his revenge.
Therefore, if Eubank Jr is weight-drained against Benn, there is a possibility he will get knocked out again.
On the other hand, Benn’s punching power has not impressed in his last two fights, going 10 and 12 rounds with obscure opponents such as Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson.
So even if Eubank Jr is weight drained there is no guarantee Benn will have the ability to hurt him.
After all, Eubank Jr is by far the hardest opponent of Benn’s career and that’s without taking the size advantage into account.
Until now, Benn’s most notable victory came against a former world champion in Chris Algieri in 2021 at 147 lbs.
Still, Algieri went on to retire after the loss and most of his success came at 140 lbs where he defeated Ruslan Provodnikov to capture the WBO Super Lightweight World title.
So, in addition to the question marks regarding weight, Benn’s prowess as a fighter has not fully been discovered.
Stylistically, we can expect Benn to start the fight fast, coming forward and trying to land combinations.
Benn is listed three inches shorter than Eubank Jr, at five foot eight so he will be forced to close the distance.
In contrast, Eubank Jr is likely to box on the back foot, using his jab and potentially looking to land the right uppercut when Benn comes in close.
Benn tends to be explosive in the early rounds, so an entertaining spectacle is expected at the start before the bout begins to settle in the middle and later rounds.
Furthermore, if Eubank Jr decides to hold and lean on Benn, this could zap the energy of the smaller fighter.
Overall, if Eubank Jr manages to make weight safely and is well-replenished by the time he steps into the ring, he should win via points or later stoppage against the less experienced Benn.
Conversely, Benn remains a less-known quantity and could cause an upset by winning the fight.
And if Eubank Jr is weight-drained, it is not impossible for Benn to score an early knockout.
Benn is the son of the heroic Nigel Benn, but like Eubank Jr, he has so far failed to capture a recognised world title.
To conclude, the weight element is what makes the bout so enticing as the animosity between Eubank Jr and Benn is incomparable to their fathers who were genuine rivals in the 90s middleweight division.
Eubank Jr vs Benn might be billed as the third fight between the Eubank and Benn family, but really it’s a bout between two sons of legends who are yet to surpass or equal their fathers.
