In boxing, theatrics often come hand in hand with talent—but sometimes, the curtain never quite drops. As hype builds yet again for the long-delayed Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr. clash, the characters outside the ropes are starting to generate as many headlines as those inside them. And when it comes to stirring the narrative pot, Eddie Hearn never misses a beat.

Speaking recently to The Stomping Ground, the Matchroom Boxing chief peeled back the curtain on what he believes is a long-running façade from both Chris Eubank Jr. and his iconic father, Chris Eubank Sr. Hearn didn’t only hype up the battle; he also gave a harsh review of the boxers’ personalities, saying that they have bled into real life as well as on television. And he made it apparent that he had known about the performance for a long time.

“The thing is with Junior—and this is the same with Senior—you end up buying into the persona that you’ve created for the act, for the drama,” Hearn began, before diving into a story from decades ago involving his father, Barry Hearn. “If you look at Chris Eubank Senior, he never spoke like that. Do you think when he came into my dad’s office for the first time—when he was like basically living semi-rough in Atlantic City or wherever—he walked in and went, ‘Hello, good afternoon’? No, not at all.”

Hearn continued, mocking the famously polished Eubank image: “He never came into my dad’s office with a cane and a monocle. But now you walk through the door, they don’t take all those clothes off and go, ‘F**in’ hell, that was some day, cor blimey!’ They carry it on in their normal life.”*

The promoter didn’t stop with the elder Eubank. Chris Jr., who has long been seen as continuing the legacy—both inside and outside the ring—was also placed under the microscope. “Junior has had that persona as well. That’s his personality now with people,” Hearn added, suggesting the performance is no longer a switch they flip on for the cameras—it’s simply who they’ve become. It’s a bold statement from the man who once helped orchestrate one of British boxing’s biggest grudge matches: the original (and now twice-postponed) Benn vs. Eubank Jr.

The scales have spoken—and Eddie Hearn isn’t budging an ounce.

Eddie Hearn on weight discussions for Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn rematch

There’ll be no shifting the scales for the September 20 rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn—at least not if Eddie Hearn has anything to say about it. The Matchroom Boxing promoter has made it clear that the bout will take place under the exact same terms as their first encounter, which was fought at the 160lb middleweight limit with a rehydration clause. Despite speculation surrounding potential weight renegotiations, Hearn told BBC Sport there’s been no approach from Team Eubank to alter the terms—and he’s in no mood to entertain one either.

“Firstly, [Team Eubank] wouldn’t approach me because the contract is with Saudi Arabia,” Hearn explained. “But the issue they have is we have a contract that stipulates the terms are identical to the first fight. That’s what we’ve signed and that’s what we’ve agreed to.”

The rematch, set for London with the venue yet to be finalised, follows their high-profile clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this year, where Eubank Jr. claimed a unanimous decision win. While weight was a hot topic leading up to the first bout—with Eubank being fined £375,000 for missing weight—the promoter dismissed any suggestion that the rehydration clause was an issue. “People don’t realise for the rehydration Chris Eubank weighed in in all his clothes and a big jacket. And he was half a pound under—he was probably three pounds under. It wasn’t a problem at all.”

Hearn did, however, acknowledge the strain of making weight. “At 160lb he was tight and you could tell it was hard work. But it’s hard work for 99% of fighters making weight,” he said, before pointing out the more pressing question: “I don’t think the hydration is the issue, it’s how long he’s going to make 160lb limit for.” With all signs pointing to unchanged terms, the narrative leading into the rematch remains the same—but the pressure on both fighters is only mounting.

Ben Shalom, who promotes Eubank Jr., has suggested the rematch might make more sense above 160 lb, arguing the rehydration clause feels less punishing than the strict cut.

Post‑fight, Eubank Jr. needed hospital treatment and underwent surgery for a head injury sustained during the war. His camp insists it was precautionary, but it underscores how savage that April fight was.

Whether you buy into the personas or the punches, the countdown to September 20 is ticking. Will this long-anticipated rematch deliver sporting redemption, or another layer of boxing theater? Drop your predictions, reactions, and hot takes on X or Reddit and join the debate that’s heating up well before the opening bell.