How the weight class will favour both Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn at different stages of the fight

There is a lot of talk surrounding the weights of Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn ahead of their fight - and rightly so.

For all intents and purposes, this is a welterweight (Benn) against a middleweight (Eubank), but there are a few other factors to consider behind the numbers on the scales.

Firstly, Conor Benn hasn’t made the welterweight limit (147lbs) since his win over Chris Algieri back in December 2021.

In his two subsequent performances against Rodolfo Orozco and Pete Dobson, Benn tipped the scales at 153½lbs and 150½lbs respectively.

Benn was never a ‘big’ welter and has repeatedly spoken of his intention to return to 147lbs and challenge for a world title in the future. He is a welterweight.

• Conor Benn: In Profile

Eubank Jr. on the other hand, has spent the vast majority of his career at the middleweight limit of 160lbs. He even had a stint up at super-middleweight (168lbs), albeit looking undersized against the top boys in the division — as evidenced by his decision loss to George Groves — before returning to his more natural weight.

However, at 35-years-old, making the weight isn’t going to be easy for Eubank Jr.

He’s always been tight on the scales at 160lbs and his performance in the first Liam Smith fight — in which he was stopped in four — and a lacklustre showing against Kamil Szeremeta last time out, could indicate a fighter on the decline and/or one struggling at the weight.

There is an argument that Eubank has never fully rediscovered his best physical conditioning at middleweight since moving back down in 2019.

• Chris Eubank Jr: In Profile

Much has been made of the rehydration clause, which sees Eubank Jr. having to weigh no more than 170lbs on the morning of the fight. While this isn’t ideal for Eubank, it’s also worth noting that he isn’t a fighter that customarily balloons up after the weigh-in.

Some fighters, for example, will put in excess of 20lbs on after making the weight. Eubank Jr, however, isn’t one of them.

I believe how well Eubank Jr makes 160lbs is more important than how he rehydrates.

• Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn: Weight & rehydration clause details

It’s also worth noting that Eubank Jr will be able to continue to put weight on after the next day weigh-in. The fight day weigh-in will be around 12 hours from the actual fight itself, so he’ll have plenty of time to refuel, should he need it.

In my opinion, the weight will favour Conor Benn early and Chris Eubank Jr. late.

In the early rounds, Benn will be relying on his speed and explosiveness and look to pounce on Eubank Jr - if there are any reservations about Eubank’s once-impenetrable chin, Benn will look to expose them early on.

However, if and when the fight progresses, Eubank Jr is the one who is far more accustomed to carrying the additional weight around the ring.

For all of Benn’s explosiveness, carrying the extra weight is energy-sapping, particularly when you’re not used to it, and I feel he will become more ragged as the fight progresses.

Eubank, meanwhile, will look to use his physical strength on the inside and bully Benn in the clinch, making the smaller man hold his weight in a bid to fatigue him.

The weight is, obviously, a key factor in the fight - and one that unquestionably favours Eubank Jr.

• Making weight is the 'most dangerous part of boxing' says Anthony Yarde