Chris Eubank Jr. is reminding Eddie Hearn about a bet they previously discussed, making it clear he hasn`t forgotten.
Before his much-anticipated bout against Conor Benn in London this Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Eubank pressed Hearn to honor a previous discussion about a £1 million (roughly $1.3 million) wager.
Eubank had previously agreed to a winner-takes-all challenge that Hearn proposed to Eubank’s promoter, Ben Shalom. However, Hearn later claimed the British Board of Boxing Control (BBBofC) would fine him if he proceeded with the bet.
Eubank brought the subject up again during a press conference on Thursday.
“I’m confident,” Eubank said. “I still want that million-pound bet that Eddie Hearn said he wanted to do. Eddie, what’s up, man? We going to put the mil on or what?”
“Are you going to fulfill the bet or are you going to run away like the weasel that you are?” Eubank added.
When Hearn tried to take the microphone, Eubank interrupted him, demanding an immediate answer instead of any preliminary remarks.
“I’ll tell you what, so his excuse at the moment is he’s going to get fined £100,000 by the board if he bets and that’s why he can’t bet me this million pounds that he said publicly that he wanted to do,” Eubank said. “So, how about I make it easier for you and I’ll put the million up and you put £900,000 up so I’ve covered the £100K fine that you’re going to get that you can’t afford to pay and let’s get it on that way. Let’s put the money in escrow tonight and winner takes all on Saturday, how about that?”
When Hearn finally had his turn to speak, he avoided directly addressing the challenge.
“As I said to your promoter over there,” Hearn said. “We will have a conversation with [BBBofC general secretary Robert W. Smith]. If I won’t face any penalties on my license, we can consider it. In the meantime, get back to the hotel, take that weight off, and get prepared to get an absolute spanking on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur.”
Eubank found Hearn`s response unsatisfactory and accused him of backing out of the proposed wager.
“Always a way to weasel your way out of what you’re supposed to be doing, which is honoring your word,” Eubank said.
The lead-up to the Eubank vs. Benn fight has been tense, partly due to the history between their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who had two championship fights in the early 1990s. Chris Eubank Jr. is set to defend his newly acquired IBO middleweight title against Benn in the headline bout on Saturday.
