Gloves Controversy Rocks Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr. as Fight Takes Ugly Turn- “Not Okay”

We’re just hours away from what many are calling the unofficial trilogy of Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn. But this time, it’s their sons carrying the torch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. And while Conor Benn will have his father proudly in his corner, the same can’t be said for Chris Eubank Jr. Word’s been swirling for days—Eubank Sr. won’t be ringside. Why? One word: “Disgrace.” That’s how he described his son’s antics after Eubank Jr. smashed an egg on Conor Benn’s face during fight week. And just like in 2022, when the original fight was scrapped, Eubank Sr. has made it pretty clear—he doesn’t want this one going ahead either.

And honestly? It’s starting to look like he might get his way. This matchup has been delivering drama from every angle. Sure, there’s legacy on the line—but for Chris Eubank Jr., this fight was personal. He wanted to do it for himself. But now, that desire might be coming at a serious cost. After the 1st weight-in session in London, the fight has taken another twist. A new issue has surfaced.

Did Conor Benn’s team cross the line?

Just when we thought the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn fight couldn’t get any messier, a last-minute glove dispute nearly caused a full-blown bust-up on Friday evening. It all started when someone from Eubank Jr.’s team raised concerns about horse hair allegedly being present in Benn’s gloves. “The contract we had is no horse hair,” something they say was explicitly not allowed per their contract.

Matchroom CEO Frank Smith, repping Benn’s side, wasn’t having it. He argued that “The contract says ‘gloves that are approved by the British Boxing Board of Control’ (BBBofC).” And according to BBBofC boss Robert Smith, “Those gloves are approved by the BBBofC.” Which means? “Job done.” No further confusion. “You should have been here at the beginning. They’re done,” he further added.

EUBANK-BENN GLOVE DISPUTE

Frank Smith: “The contract says gloves that are approved by the BBBofC.”

Robert Smith: “Those gloves are approved at the BBBofC. (Eubank’s team) should’ve been here at the beginning, they’re done.”

Eubank’s team: “This is not okay. We’ve specified… pic.twitter.com/Qaq10LULrH

— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) April 25, 2025

But Chris Eubank Jr.’s camp wasn’t satisfied. “This is not okay,” they said. They insisted they had made it clear from the beginning that horse hair was off the table. “Listen, it’s gonna be what it is, but that’s not okay, it’s not okay,” they said. Still, Robert Smith pushed back, saying the BBBofC had not been involved in those earlier discussions and had already approved the gloves in question.

“It’s okay with us. I accept your opinion, but we’ve approved the gloves already. We’ll see you all tomorrow.” That’s when Eubank Jr.’s adviser, Mazhar Majeed—who has a checkered past, including a prison sentence for his role in a 2010 cricket match-fixing scandal—stepped in and escalated things further.

Majeed warned that if the gloves weren’t changed, then “Conor Benn’s gonna get some money off his contract.” Frank Smith didn’t back down. “Maz, I’m not scared of you.” To which Majeed quickly fired back, saying, “I don’t give a fu-k, pr–k.” And while things got uncomfortably close, it stopped just short of becoming a full-blown brawl.

Majeed in the end brought up a similar situation from 2022 between Amir Khan and Kell Brook, accusing the BBBofC of repeating past mistakes. He warned that if they didn’t handle things properly now, they might have to change gloves again just moments before the fight—just like they did last time. Whether they resolve this peacefully before fight night or let it spiral into more chaos remains to be seen—but someone has clearly lit the fuse. And in case you missed what happened in the weigh-in, let us give you a quick detour.

Chris Eubank jr got the harsh dose of his own medicine 

Just hours ago, things got real at the final weigh-in in London. Chris Eubank Jr. stepped on the scales and came in at 160.2 lbs on his first try. He gave it another go, but still landed at 160.05 lbs—just 0.05 lbs over the contracted middleweight limit. It might not sound like much, but in boxing, every ounce counts. And now? That tiny miss is costing him a huge $500,000 fine, according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.

But it doesn’t stop there. Eubank Jr. now has to weigh in again on fight day, Saturday morning. Thanks to a strict rehydration clause, he can’t be more than 170 lbs. If he goes over again, he’ll be hit with another fine. Meanwhile, Conor Benn showed up on time, made weight at a comfortable 156.4 lbs, and went about his day. Since he usually fights at 147 lbs, coming up in weight wasn’t too difficult. For Eubank Jr., who usually fights heavier, it’s been a much tougher cut.

The delay didn’t help either. The weigh-in was supposed to wrap by 11 a.m., but Eubank Jr. arrived over an hour late, adding even more tension to an already chaotic day. With the rehydration cap hanging over him, his recovery is going to be limited. And that could seriously affect how he performs in the ring.

Now, the big question: Can Chris Eubank Jr. hit the mark and still bring the heat? Or is Conor Benn about to step out of his father’s shadow and take revenge in the most dramatic way possible?

The post Gloves Controversy Rocks Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr. as Fight Takes Ugly Turn- “Not Okay” appeared first on EssentiallySports.