PROMOTER Eddie Hearn has urged the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) to assemble a panel of experts to discuss safe and effective weight-making practices for fighters.
The issue has gained traction following the Board’s demand for Chris Eubank Jr to explain his alleged use of a sauna before his bout against Conor Benn on April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Videos surfaced during fight week showing Eubank’s efforts to meet the 160lb middleweight limit.
It’s alleged he used a sauna to aid his weight cut, a practice banned by the BBBoC, though reportedly used discreetly by some fighters in the past. Eubank Jr is scheduled to appear before the Board next month to clarify his actions.
Eubank officially weighed in at 160lb and delivered a thrilling victory over Benn. A rematch, potentially set for September or October, is under discussion, with weight-making protocols likely to resurface if Eubank is required to make 160lb again.
Hearn, who revealed to Boxing News that he was fined by the Board years ago for comments on saunas and weight-making, stressed the need for a comprehensive review of the process.
“I think what the board need to do is have some kind of forum with five or six of the top nutritionists and weight-making experts in the country to just talk about some solutions around that. Also earlier weigh-ins on the Friday because [Matchroom shows] weigh in at 1pm but in America we’re doing the weigh-ins at 9am. Those extra few hours make a massive difference to a fighter hydrating. These are all things to talk about. I think that we just got to keep evolving.
“What Eubank did was he wanted to show the world what a terrible thing this was that he was fighting at his championship weight and how brutal it was for him and in return the board said ‘You’ve got to come and explain yourself for what you were doing to make weight.’ Was he doing anything wrong? Let’s be honest, not really.
“Fighters have to find a way to make weight. They’ve got to do it safely and they’ve got to do that under the advice of their team but can they do that without water manipulation? Ask any scientist that you know is there a fighter that doesn’t manipulate his water and his hydration to make weight. Very, very few.”
