Another day packed full of incident and controversy preceded this weekend’s huge grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
The arch-rivals will finally settle their differences inside the ring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night in a mammoth, all-British main event being contested at middleweight, two-and-a-half years since their initial bout was cancelled at late notice after Benn – who has always denied any wrongdoing – failed two voluntary drugs tests.
A long-running rivalry that has has been simmering for many years now and traces back to the epic title battles between fathers Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn in the 1990s has certainly not been short on more recent talking points, most notably when Eubank Jr slapped his opponent across the face with an egg to spark an ugly brawl at a press conference in February – incurring a fine of £100,000 from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) in the process.
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn glove row explained
Footage circulated on social media on Friday of Eubank Jr’s team telling BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith of their frustration at Benn’s Everlast gloves during an animated meeting.
Their chief complaint seemed to stem from the fact that the gloves contained horse hair, a perfectly legal but divisive old-school alternative to more modern gloves which are typically padded with foam.
Conor Benn has his gloves laced by trainer Tony Sims during a media workout before Chris Eubank Jr fight
Getty Images
Many fighters feel those gloves are more durable and better for power, though they have caused plenty of rows in the past in a number of high-profile bouts – most notably Tyson Fury’s famous trilogy with Deontay Wilder, with Fury traditionally using gloves with horse hair.
