EDDIE Hearn has opened the door to a possible U-turn, admitting that Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s rematch is far from certain.
Following an announcement from boxing paymaster Turki Alalshikh, Ring Magazine reported last month that a second encounter between Eubank, 35-3 (25 KOs), and Benn, 23-1 (14 KOs), will take place on September 20.
Their first fight, which delivered a thrilling spectacle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, saw Eubank emerge with a unanimous decision victory back in April.
Given the roaring success of their event, too, the fact that both parties seemed eager to run it back came as little surprise.
But while their rematch is still expected to materialise at a yet-to-be-revealed stadium in the capital, there now appears to be an element of uncertainty on the side of Eubank.
The 35-year-old’s manager, Elliott Amoakoh, has insisted in multiple interviews that a team of lawyers is leading negotiations for the potential rubber match.
At the same time, though, Benn’s promoter, Hearn, has claimed that the terms for their sequel will remain consistent with what was agreed for the first fight.
The most controversial element of that original showdown, of course, was a 10lb rehydration cap, which prevented both fighters from exceeding the 170lb limit at their second-day weigh-in.
Naturally, the stipulation had a far greater impact on Eubank, the considerably bigger man, who was rushed off to hospital, and ultimately suffered from severe dehydration, shortly after getting his hand raised.
But now, it would appear that Eubank may not be so keen on the idea of putting himself back through that gruelling process, with Hearn even considering the possibility of exploring alternative opponents for Benn.
“If Eubank messes around – if his bum goes for the fight – then we’ve got to look at other options,” Hearn told Boxing News.
“He’s been told about the date; I believe [that the Riyadh Season event organisers have] given him an ultimatum to say [that September 20 is] the date.
“We’re not going to wait around for Eubank. If he ain’t ready, he ain’t ready. That’s over to him.”
