Eddie Hearn requires Chris Eubank Jr to return DOWN in measurement for the rematch in opposition to Conor Benn – regardless of veteran’s brutal weight lower – as promoter claims there was a ‘harmful’ disparity within the first bout

Eddie Hearn believes Chris Eubank Jr should come down in weight for the rematch against Conor Benn after their pair’s ‘dangerous’ first bout. 

The Eubank-Benn grudge match was settled – for the time being – on Saturday night when the former claimed a unanimous decision victory after 12-gruelling rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

The weight of the taller Eubank Jr was the main talking point pre-fight after he was slapped with a $500,000 (£375,000) fine for narrowly coming over the 160lb limit. Eubank Jr had revealed the extraordinary lengths he took to meet the target and his dehydrated appearance at the weigh-in led some to fear that the endeavour could cost him the bout. 

It also added weight to the argument of his father, Chris Eubank Sr, who expressed concerns over his son’s safety. 

However, Hearn has sensationally claimed that the safety of Benn, who weighed in nine pounds above his usual 147-pound welterweight limit for the contest, was of greater concern. 

The promoter revealed that terms for a rematch are ‘already agreed’ and, despite his concerns, insisted that the first fight’s contract made for ‘one of the greatest fights we have ever seen’ in the UK.  

Eddie Hearn believes Chris Eubank Jr should come down in weight for the rematch against Conor Benn

Benn came up two weight classes for the bout, while Eubank Jr was forced to come down to the 160 pound limit 

Despite his weight and height disadvantage, Benn was still able to inflict serious damage to Eubank Jr

‘I think maybe [Chris Eubank] Jr should come down a little bit lower rather than Conor Benn coming up two weight classes,’ he said during the post-fight press conference. 

‘We knew Chris Eubank’s weight all week, right. I knew it at the check weight, the day after, we knew what he woke up at this morning and he was absolutely spot on. 

‘Yesterday he was tight at the weight. He’s always tight at the weight. He’s made it the last five times, he messed up, got there an hour late and could have made it comfortably but they just balls up, that’s it. 

‘Apart from his dad, no one ever said “do you think it’s dangerous for Conor Benn to move up two weight classes to fight Chris Eubank?” You guys have to remember as well, this contract was not negotiated between Matchroom and Chris Eubank Jr. 

‘This was negotiated by Ring Magazine and Eubank individually and we negotiated our contract individually. Chris Eubank, Ban Shalom, Mazhar [Majee], they accepted those terms. 

‘That’s the art of a contract and the plan is to abide by those terms. So for me, the terms were spot on as you saw tonight. You saw a very evenly matched fight where a big 160-pounder nearly made his championship weight.

‘Conor weight around 165lb in the ring, Eubank was probably 176lb and Conor stood up to it. They served you up one of the greatest fights we’ve ever seen in this country.

‘But for me the danger was not for Chris Eubank Jr, the danger was for Conor Benn and that’s why we’ve got to think very carefully about the rematch because I don’t want to see him in too many fights like that.’

Hearn revealed that a rematch between the pair has already been agreed, while insisting that the terms for the fight were ‘spot on’

After the pre-fight weigh-in debacle, Eubank Jr cut a dominant figure in the ring, landing 152 more punches than his opponent on his way to winning eight rounds.

There appeared to be a moment where he was out on his feet in the 12th round, sticking his head through the ropes, but he rallied back in a demanding last minute. He won 116-112 on each scorecard as he inflicted a first career defeat on Benn, claiming bragging rights in their grudge match after a 30-month wait to clash.

However, Eubank Jr was taken to hospital by ambulance for precautionary checks. His post-fight press conference was cancelled and he also suffered a cut above his right eye after a clash of heads in the ninth round.

Benn claimed that he had broken his opponent’s jaw, however this has not been confirmed.  

Yet, Hearn’s worries lied with his fighter, adding: ‘They’re the kind of fights that can shorten your career and he’s got such a long career ahead of him.

‘The terms are already agreed for the rematch to move forward and it’s the same as the first contract so I think we’ve got it spot on with the numbers.’

Benn said afterwards: ‘I wish him well. I know he’s gone to the hospital. I’ve heard he’s got a broken jaw, so I wish him a speedy recovery. I also want to thank (Chris Eubank) Sr for turning up because this really is a family affair and it wouldn’t have been what it was without Sr there.’

Eubank Jr celebrated with his father, the former middleweight champion, who shocked the boxing world by turning up to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to back his son.

The 58-year-old had threatened to boycott the fight due to safety fears, calling it ‘against the law of boxing,’ and branded his son ‘disgraceful’ for slapping his rival with an egg during a February press conference.

But catching up with Mail Sport at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he said: ‘I back my son no matter what. The egg thing he did? Very disappointed, but I forgave him instantly. And now, he always has to understand you always have to preach that this is not the way we behave as standardbearers, as noblemen.’