Chris Eubank Jr has avoided another costly sanction after successfully making weight for his rematch with Conor Benn, a welcome change of fortune following the headline-grabbing penalty he incurred in April.
Earlier this year he missed the 160-pound middleweight limit by just 0.05lb and was fined £375,000 as a result.
This time, at a private weigh in held ahead of Saturday’s showdown, Eubank registered 159.1lb, comfortably inside the limit and safely out of financial danger.
Benn, who has spent most of his career at the 147-pound welterweight limit, stepped on the scales heavier than his rival at 159.4lb, the highest weight of his professional career.
Their rivalry has grown increasingly theatrical this week after Eddie Hearn staged a silent protest at the final press conference, holding up cue cards instead of speaking in response to Eubank’s repeated interruptions at an April media event.
But behind the antics sits a fight with serious stakes, and both boxers still face one more hurdle: the rehydration clause.
Each man is required to remain under a 170-pound cap at a secondary weigh in on fight day.
Chris Eubank Jr beat Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this year
| PAExceeding the limit carries another significant penalty, believed to be £100,000 for every pound over.
Given their history with weight-related fines, the fighters will tread carefully between now and Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a capacity crowd is expected to watch the rematch unfold.
Benn had previously bragged about purchasing a new Rolls Royce after receiving Eubank’s earlier £375,000 payment.
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Five facts about boxing that fans might not know | GBNEWS/PAThe 29-year-old made the claim with relish, using it to stoke the rivalry further.
Eubank, 36, addressed the jibe directly after making weight.
“You guys got your wish, you got your $500k,” he said.
“You bought a Rolls Royce, congratulations. You’re only getting one Rolls Royce this year, mate. Don’t worry about that.”
Meanwhile, Chris Eubank Sr was sat alongside his son at the press conference on Thursday.
Earlier in the year, there were claims that he'd been paid to attend the first fight.
Chris Eubank Jr has the support of his father going into his boxing rematch with Conor Benn
|PA
That's something he firmly denies, with Eubank Sr saying: "They are lying to you [about receiving money], and if you are spouting what they told you then they are a liar.
"I speak and I want truth, nothing but. That's a true entertainer."
He added: "I'm here to support. I'm here to protect [my son].
"In regards to the love of a son, if a father takes money, nothing wrong with that.
"If a father doesn't take money, study that. I am here for heart and love."
How the bout plays out remains to be seen.