The most expensive 0.05 pounds in history: failing to make the middleweight limit will cost Chris Eubank Jr dearly ahead of his clash with fellow Brit Conor Benn tomorrow (click here to read our fight preview), as he lost the first battle—against the scales.
At the first weigh-in attempt, Eubank came in at 160.2 lbs and was granted additional time to try again. On his second and final attempt, the result was even more frustrating: 160.05 lbs. Just 0.05 lbs over the contracted limit, and per the agreement, that means a $500,000 penalty.
This saga might not be over yet. Tomorrow morning, both fighters will step on the scales again to ensure they haven’t surpassed the 170 lb rehydration cap. Should Eubank fail to stay under that threshold, he’ll be hit with an even steeper fine—reportedly around $1 million.
No issues for his opponent, Conor Benn, who comfortably weighed in at 156.4 lbs, once again showing he’s not a true middleweight.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Eubank Jr is pushing his body to the extreme to meet the weight stipulations agreed upon during negotiations. Let’s hope these sacrifices don’t endanger his health once the bell rings.