Chris Eubank Jr is threatening to walk away from a deal to face “rat” Conor Benn over a row about a rehydration clause.
The two fighters have agreed to face each other on April 26 with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the venue.
Eubank Jr and Benn are due to meet at middleweight after an October 2022 clash got cancelled when the latter had an adverse analytical finding for clomifene in a VADA doping test. But now Eubank Jr has rebuffed an attempt to put in a 10lb rehydration clause that would see him having to weigh in on the day of the fight at 12st 2lb.
He said: “Just so you all know – these two rats Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn are now trying to enforce a rehydration restriction on me to make the fight. They talk a big game but when it actually comes down to it just a pair of [cat emojis].”
But Benn was quick to respond on social media site X – that’s despite claiming earlier this month that he was coming off all his social accounts.
The welterweight said: “You soft p**** I’m coming up two weights to fight you and I’m the [cat emoji]? 10lbs rehydration because I’m already fighting a middleweight but you want to get in the ring as a light heavyweight? You are scared to death of Janibek Alimkhanuly and Hamzah Sheeraz so I’m your only option satsuma head.
“And this is something you and your team agreed to on Saturday so don’t try and make out this is new. Stop being a p**** and sign the contract. Making excuses already for when i staple you to the floor.”
The pair had previously failed to agree on purse splits for the bout but now most of the major stumbling blocks have been removed if the rehydration issue can be sorted.
“I think we either get it made this week or we don’t,” Hearn told Sky Sports earlier this week. “His Excellency has made it clear that it’s a fight that he wants to see and be involved with, which helps, because it enables him to sit in the middle and negotiate with both sides.
“If I was negotiating with Eubank, I don’t think the fight would get made, if I’m honest. Luckily I’m not. We are drawing closer to the finishing line. It’s not done yet, but a stadium blockbuster awaits hopefully in April.
“If everybody was sensible, I’d be 100 per cent [confident the fight happens]. But this is boxing, and no one is sensible. Watch this space.”
Benn and Eubank Jr are sons of famous fighting duo Nigel and Chris Snr, who had two epic battles back in the 1990s and were mainstream names in the sport.
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