Following the highly anticipated clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn last Saturday, boxing enthusiasts are widely calling for a second meeting between the two British fighters. However, promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed reservations about the potential rematch.
Conor Benn (23-1, 14 KOs), naturally a welterweight, moved up in weight to 160lbs for this bout against his opponent from a different era in boxing, aiming to secure a victory over the Eubank name, a feat his father was unable to achieve.
Despite Benn`s determined effort, it was Chris Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) who showcased resilience and tactical intelligence, ultimately emerging victorious from the demanding contest by unanimous decision. His performance also reportedly set a new record for punch statistics in 2025.
Eubank Jr.`s (35 years old) performance has received additional recognition partly because of the widespread belief that he was hindered by a stringent rehydration agreement. However, Hearn stated that the weigh-in conducted on the day of the fight presented “no problem at all” for Eubank Jr.
Hearn explained, “The reality is that the rehydration clause caused him no issues whatsoever. In fact, he was asleep and missed his scheduled 8 am weigh-in on Saturday, only waking up around 10 or 11 am. He simply got ready and weighed in half a pound under the required limit. The actual issue wasn`t related to hydration; the point of contention was his expectation to make his own championship weight, which was not something we asked him to do.”
Furthermore, Hearn defended himself against accusations regarding the supposedly unsafe terms of the initial fight. He clarified that he was not involved in negotiating those specific terms and confirmed that the same conditions would apply to any prospective rematch.
He commented, “I know I’m often blamed for everything, but we did not negotiate the contract terms for Chris Eubank Jr. We didn’t mandate that he needed to weigh 160lbs and rehydrate to 170lbs. Those specific terms were negotiated independently by Ring Magazine, Sela, and Team Eubank. Subsequently, those same parties approached us, informed us that the terms would be 160lbs with a 10lb rehydration limit, and asked for our agreement, which we provided.”
Hearn added, “They reached an agreement with Ring Magazine based on those precise terms, and the same terms are stipulated for the rematch. If they were not content with that arrangement, they should not have agreed to it initially.”
Despite the captivating nature of their recent bout, Hearn remains uncertain about the likelihood of a rematch between Eubank and Benn. He admitted his concern that Eubank might hesitate to proceed with a second fight, particularly now that Benn is expected to have fewer disadvantages.
He stated, “I’m not certain if Eubank will accept it. I don`t want to predict whether he will fight again, but he was released from the hospital on Monday after a physically taxing battle. He understands that this time Conor will be less inactive, stronger at the weight, and more confident – although the financial incentive is considerable.”
While a second encounter with Benn would undoubtedly generate significant interest and revenue, a potentially highly lucrative bout against Canelo Alvarez has also been mentioned. However, such a fight would likely not take place until 2026, given Canelo’s reported plans to face Terence Crawford in September.
