Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight thrown into more chaos amid row over gloves

CHRIS EUBANK Jr and Conor Benn are locked in yet another row – this time over their fight gloves.

The born rivals collide in a 160lb middleweight grudge match tomorrow night at Tottenham’s stadium – 35 years after their dads’ first fight.

Reuters

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn weighing in[/caption]

But drama ensued just 24 hours before the first bell after Eubank came in at 160.05lb – meaning he was an agonising half an ounce above the limit.

And there was more chaos as Eubank’s team argued that Benn’s Everlast fight gloves should not have been signed off.

Eddie Hearn revealed the argument stemmed over Benn wearing gloves made out of horse hair.

But Hearn – who promotes Benn – says the British Boxing Board of Control have signed off on the gloves.

He told SunSport: “They weren’t happy about some horse hair.

“Every glove that is approved by the British Boxing Board of Control, the fighters are able to use.

“Conor Benn’s just wearing a pair of Everlasts that were approved by the Board.”

A similar row ensued in 2022 when Amir Khan finally fought Kell Brook.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Khan had negotiated for no horse hair and Brook had to change his gloves in the ring – just moments before the bout was due to start.

But Hearn confirmed: “Nothing in our contracts at all, no.

“In our contracts it’s just gloves that are approved by the Boxing Board of Control. Which they are.”

But Eubank’s promoter Ben Shalom told us: “We have a contract that there’s no horse hair in the gloves and and that’s it.

“So there cannot be horse hair in those gloves. It should be sorted immediately. Let’s see what happens.”

In a video uploaded by Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing on YouTube, British Boxing Board of Control chief Robert Smith did sign off on the gloves.

Eubank has already had £375,000 deducted from his purse per the rules in their contract due to missing weight – with the cash going directly to Benn.

Benn had earlier weighed in surprisingly light at 156.4lbs – nearly 4lb under the middleweight limit.

Much has been made of the fight weight heading into the second-generation grudge match.

The born rivals first signed for a 157lb catchweight clash in 2022 – causing controversy with Eubank having NEVER fought that low.

But it was KOd with just days to go as Benn tested positive for clomiphene – a banned substance known to boost testosterone.

He protested his innocence and took his career to America – having two wins at the light-middleweight limit.

Meanwhile, UK Anti-Doping dropped the case against him, allowing Benn to fight on British soil again.

But after the doping scandal, Eubank was in no mood to make concessions and demanded the bout be at the 160lb middleweight limit.

There is only a 10lb rehydration clause – restricting what both can weigh on the morning of the bout.

So both Eubank and Benn must be 170lb or under in 24 hours’ time.

The fighters will be fined £100,000 for every pound they go over that limit.

Hearn slammed Eubank for missing the weight: “He’s talked a lot about his professionalism, his dedication and he is a stubborn b*d.

“And I just thought he would make championship weight. I mean, he clearly tried but it’s a little bit of unprofessionalism. Firstly not making the weight but he was an hour late.

“He would have easily had the time to get the weight off if he would have turned up on time.

“I felt like when he was there he wasn’t really getting the right advice either on what to do.

“I don’t think that the half ounce will have any say in the fight at all but obviously there was a substantial fine and it’s just really about mojo.

“Like right now Conor Benn’s on top of the world and Chris Eubank Jr is probably fuming, so it all helps.”

PA

Hearn flanks Benn on the stage[/caption]