By Pete Carvill
Promoter Eddie Hearn has confessed that he was surprised by the announcement this week of the rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
Speaking to The Ring at the launch yesterday of Matchroom鈥檚 new branding, Hearn said that while he and everyone involved in the promotion had been taken by surprise due to the quickness of the announcement. The date for the rematch has been set for 20 September in London, although no venue has yet been named.
Hearn said: 鈥淚t took everyone by surprise, because that鈥檚 what Alalshikh does. I didn鈥檛 know the announcement was coming. We鈥檙e all onboard, we have a contract, and we always knew it was going to be the 20th or 27th once the venue became available. And he wanted the 20th, so he just doubled down. And the next thing, it was announced.鈥
The promoter, son of the legendary Barry Hearn, also reflected on the controversial rehydration clause that has been carried over from the first fight. That clause stipulates that Eubank must weigh in for the fight at 160lbs or under, while also not weighing more than 170lbs on the night of the bout.
On 26 April, Eubank and Benn fought twelve rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in a fight that saw Eubank win by scores of three scores of 116-112.
Looking both at the first fight between the pair and the upcoming rematch, Hearn said that the rehydration clause the first time around was not as onerous as previously thought. This was despite allegations from Chris Eubank Sr that his son鈥檚 medical condition had been 鈥榯ouch and go鈥 after the first fight due to the dehydration.
He said: 鈥淸Eubank] was half a pound under with his jacket on and all his clothes. But I think 160lbs was a big problem for him, and I think he鈥檚 very tight at middleweight. But he鈥檚 made that weight the last five times. That鈥檚 a question for him and his team.鈥
Hearn added: 鈥淔or Conor, we鈥檙e all good. You saw, in the first fight, the physical disadvantage that Conor Benn has in terms of size. So you鈥檙e going to see round thirteen, really, of Benn-Eubank I, and that鈥檚 exactly how the fight will go. This time, I think we鈥檒l do him.鈥
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