Chris Eubank Jr, Conor Benn's Weigh-in Controversy Spurs Criticism

The much-hyped fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn has been fraught with controversy, particularly surrounding weight clauses and financial penalties. Eubank Jr was fined £375,000 for narrowly missing the middleweight limit, accusing Benn's team of using tactics to 'derail' his weight cut, such as closing the scales early and refusing him the chance to lose more weight. Critics, including Eubank Jr's father, have labeled the bout a 'fight for nothing but the money,' highlighting the lack of championship stakes and the perceived risks to both fighters due to unnatural weight adjustments. Media and boxing insiders have questioned the legitimacy of the event, suggesting it is driven more by family legacy and commercial interests than sporting merit, with both fighters on divergent career paths and no intrinsic sporting necessity for their matchup. Harlem Eubank, Chris's cousin, criticized the weight clause as a major theme of the contest, though he acknowledged its commonality in boxing. Amidst the spectacle, both fighters have been accused of hypocrisy and opportunism, casting a shadow over the event's sporting integrity.