ACCORDING to Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom, there should be a degree of wiggle room when it comes to negotiating the rehydration clause for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2.
In fact, it appears that several elements of this rematch still need to be ironed out, not least regarding the extent of Eubank’s financial penalty in the event that he once again fails to make weight.
Ahead of their first encounter, much had been made of the fact that Eubank, 35-3 (25 KOs), the naturally bigger man, was compelled to keep below a rehydration cap of 170lbs.
Even before that, though, the former world title challenger was faced with a torrid weight cut and ultimately hit the scales at just 0.05lbs above the middleweight limit.
He did, of course, keep to his word the following day, weighing in just under 170lbs, but was nonetheless forced to part with £375,000 due to a pre-arranged agreement with Benn, 23-1 (14 KOs).
The terms of his contract in April stipulated that, should he weigh above 160lbs on the Friday, then Eubank would need to pay that amount of money ($500,000) directly to Benn.
And yet, this time around, there seems to be a lack of cohesion on whether the 36-year-old will be expected to contend with the same challenges ahead of their rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, on November 15.
Ever since Eubank emerged victorious earlier this year, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who promotes Benn, has maintained his belief that the terms for their second encounter should be the exact same.
But Shalom, who represents Eubank, has suggested that both the rehydration clause and possible financial penalty – for if his man misses weight, that is – are yet to be re-negotiated.
“We did a whole contract and, just as we’re about to announce the [first] fight, we were given an ultimatum that the fight doesn’t happen without a rehydration clause,” Shalom told Boxing News.
“In that position, Chris decided to take the extra money that was offered, but the reality is that it’s an unsafe, unregulated clause that shouldn’t appear in boxing contracts.
“A fighter’s going to take any challenge, especially if there’s money on the line, so it’s the regulators that should step in and make sure everything’s safe.
“I hope that there won’t be a rehydration clause this time.”
When asked to confirm the financial penalty for if Eubank misses weight, the Boxxer promoter said: “We haven’t got to that point, and I can’t comment on that.”
Hearn, on the other hand, has offered a vastly different view on the financial penalty, insisting that the figure could be even higher this time around.
“It’s the same [$500,000], or hopefully $1m this time,” he said. “I don’t think he [Shalom] knows what’s confirmed; I don’t think he knows what day of the week it is.”
