Conor Benn believes Chris Eubank Jr is 'looking for excuses' after failing to make the 160lb middleweight limit for their grudge match despite putting himself through a brutal weight cut.
Conor Benn believes Chris Eubank Jr is 'looking for excuses' after failing to make the 160lb middleweight limit for their grudge match despite putting himself through a brutal weight cut.
Eubank Jr weighed in half an ounce too heavy at Friday's official weigh-in, and will now have to pay a $500,000 (£375,000) fine to his rival.
The 35-year-old took to Instagram to show fans exactly what he had been putting his body through to get down to 160lbs, including cycling in a full sweat suit and lying down in a large heat bag.
But Benn was buying none of it, and took to X to hit back at Eubank Jr for 'trying to fool' the public.
'Christopher who are you trying to fool and get sympathy from, I’m coming UP to your weight a weight you’ve made your last 3 fights and most of your career!' Benn wrote.
'It’s like you’re looking for excuses already? First time you’ve ever missed weight and first time you’ve ever posted a weight cut.'
Chris Eubank Jr failed to make weight on Friday despite cycling in a full sweat suit
He also posted a video of himself lying down in a large heat bag to sweat off the weight but it didn't work
Conor Benn has accused his rival of 'looking for excuses' ahead of Saturday's fight
Benn also posted a video of himself after learning Eubank Jr had missed weight, as he looked into the camera and said 'show me the motherf****** money,' while laughing.
Eubank Jr has spent the majority of his career at middleweight since turning professional in 2011.
However, he has fought up at the super-middleweight limit of 168lbs, and has spoken in the recent past about the difficulty of still making 160lbs.
His father, Chris Eubank Sr, who was a two-weight world champion in his own right, also told Mail Sport last week that his son is fighting in the 'wrong' weight category.
He was angry that Eubank Jr agreed to fight Benn at 157lbs in October 2022 before the bout was cancelled due to Benn failing two drugs tests, and was not happy to see him back at 160lbs for Saturday's fight, as he raised concerns about his son's health.
'I told my son three years ago, that fight does not happen,' Eubank Sr said. 'He is the wrong weight. I told him why it shouldn't happen and why it will not happen. I was correct last time and I will be correct this time.
'We can't have any more Michael Watsons. He is the people's champion. You are getting blinded by this circus put on by these promoters. Barry (Hearn), your son (Eddie Hearn) said there's real hate now. What hate? It's just money. There's no hate.
Eubank Jr still posed triumphantly despite missing the 160lb limit by half an ounce and being hit with a $500,000 fine
Chris Eubank Sr has criticised his son for still fighting at 160lbs, insisting he is campaigning in the 'wrong' weight category
Eubank Jr and Benn must also not exceed the 170lb rehydration clause or they will be fined
'The hate is in the promoters' mindset. I wish you (Chris Jr) would listen but I know you won't.'
Eubank Jr has already been hit with a £100,000 fine for slapping Benn with an egg at the launch press conference for their fight in February, and he must now adhere to the rehydration clause in their contract to avoid another financial punishment.
Both men are set to tip the scales on Saturday morning, and they cannot have put on more than 10lbs since Friday's weigh-in.
Benn weighed in at 156.4lbs on Friday and is not expected to have any issues with coming in under 170lbs. However, it could be a different story for Eubank Jr after his struggles to get down to 160lbs.