The very thing Chris Eubank Sr. feared has finally come to pass. From the beginning, he voiced concerns about the weight difference between his son, Chris Eubank Jr., and Conor Benn, worried it could lead to serious trouble, just like the last time the fight was called off. Eubank Sr. had even expressed interest in seeing his son face someone like Canelo Alvarez instead, so he wouldn’t have to drain himself to make weight. But here we are again, with the Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn bout back on—and now dealing with a new twist in the saga.

No, the fight hasn’t been canceled. In fact, it’s very much going ahead. The two will step into the ring tomorrow in front of a sold-out crowd of 65,000 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, not to mention millions watching around the world. However, the issue this time? Weight. The fight was scheduled at middleweight (160 lbs), and while Conor Benn is already stepping up two divisions from welterweight, it seems Chris Eubank Jr. has taken things a little too casually.

Just hours ago, the final weigh-in took place in a London hotel—and that’s where things got interesting. At the weigh-ins, Eubank Jr. tipped the scales at 160.2 lbs on his first attempt, and after a second try, the IBO middleweight champion managed to come in at 160.05 lbs., still 0.05 lbs above the contract-specified limit.

As a result, Chris Eubank Jr. is now being fined a whopping $500,000, according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger. That’s not all—he’s now required to stay under 170 lbs tomorrow morning, the day of the fight, as a result of the 10 lbs rehydration clause. If he goes over again, he’ll face another financial penalty.

The weigh-in was supposed to be wrapped up by 11 a.m. Friday—but Chris Eubank Jr. showed up fashionably late, over an hour behind schedule. By then, Conor Benn had already hit the scales at a lean 156.4 lbs, no problem at all. That’s not surprising—Benn usually fights at 147 lbs in the welterweight division, so bulking up wasn’t exactly a brutal task for him. Eubank Jr., on the other hand, is used to campaigning at super-middleweight and middleweight.

But now, there’s an extra twist: he’s got to step on the scales again Saturday morning, thanks to a strict rehydration clause, neither fighter is allowed to put on more than 10 pounds after the initial weigh-in. That’s no big deal for Benn—but for Eubank Jr., it’s a serious obstacle. It puts a tight cap on how much he can recover and rehydrate overnight, and that could absolutely affect his performance. And now, with the failed weigh-in ceremony, social media has been buzzing with their responses.

Chris Eubank Jr. receives sympathy over the $500k fine for 0.05 lbs

One fan was taken aback by a sudden Ring Magazine post. Worried that the breaking news on the post implied the fight had been canceled, the fan wrote, “Scared me, had me thinking the fight was off 😂😂😂.” And honestly, who could blame them? Given how many times Chris Eubank Sr. has voiced concerns—and openly hoped this fight wouldn’t go ahead—it’s no surprise fans are constantly on edge, half-expecting something to derail it. But despite all the drama around the weigh-in, the fight’s still on… for now.

Another user couldn’t help but notice the hefty fine, saying, “That fine for a non title fight is crazy stuff.” Hard to argue with that—half a million dollars for being slightly over the limit? That’s steep.

Meanwhile, a third user sarcastically broke down every other cost that Chris Eubank Jr has had to bear for this one fight, writing, “500k for missing weight, 100k for slapping the egg, 50k for the undercard fighters, trying to bet a mill with Eddie… Eubank is SPENDING on this fight 😳.” Eubank Jr was fined £100 for the egg-smashing incident by the BBBofC. However, the $50,000? That one, Chris Eubank Jr., did out of the kindness of his heart to compensate the undercard fighters of their initial 2022 fight.

One fan had some advice for Chris Eubank Jr., saying, “Take the fine, fight hydrated and healthy, and tump up this midget!” The sentiment? Since he’s paying the fine anyway, he might as well fight at full strength, at his natural weight, and give himself the best shot possible.

Another fan chimed in with a dose of reality, pointing out, “35 isn’t 25 years old making weight only gets tougher with age.” And they weren’t wrong. This echoed something Eddie Hearn said just days before the weigh-in. According to Hearn, Conor Benn could just go home, get a light workout in, have a healthy breakfast, and still make weight without any stress. Eubank Jr., on the other hand, would need to starve himself—and still likely come in a stone heavier. Turns out, that’s exactly what happened. The fan was just spelling out the obvious.

Shocked by the fine for such a small amount of weight, another user remarked, “500k for 22.7 grams? Ridiculous.” It does sound wild, but in boxing, even a few grams over can tilt the scale—literally and figuratively. It’s a dangerous sport, and weight classes exist for a reason. Going over, even slightly, can have serious consequences, which is why the penalties are so harsh.

And finally, one user threw a sharp jab at Eubank Jr., saying, “No wonder his dad doesn’t back him.” It stings, but it’s rooted in real tension. Chris Eubank Sr. had supported his son through the amateur days, but after that bizarre egg-smashing incident, he publicly distanced himself. Despite Nigel Benn himself hoping the father-son duo could patch things up, Sr. made it clear—he won’t be in his son’s corner this time. And so far, he’s stayed true to his word.

Now, all eyes are on what comes next. Will Chris Eubank Jr. make the weight tomorrow and turn the tide? Or will Conor Benn carve out his own legacy by avenging his father in dramatic fashion? What do you think—is Eubank Jr. about to repeat history, or is Conor Benn ready to write a brand new chapter?