Via Barry Holbrook: George Groves feels that Chris Eubank Jr’s size will carry him to victory in a thrilling weightlifting fight with Conor Benn welterweight on October 8.
Benn had a 157 lbs weight and a 10 lb rehydration clause to his advantage, but Groves doubted that would be enough for him to beat Eubank Jr.
Groves said that the only hit Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) won was if Eubank Jr was completely drained of weight and unable to train hard due to him fighting a welterweight division. It remains to be seen whether the handicap helps the 25-year-old Benn.
What really hurts Benn in this fight is his lack of experience fighting quality opponents. His promoter compared him to terrible enemies at 147, as he doesn’t have the benefits of an amateur career.
Benn made easy money fighting the likes of Chris Algieri, Adrian Granados, Samuel Vargas, Sebastian Formella and Chris Van Heerden.
The money was so great that Hearn was in no hurry to start fighting Benn against the direct opposition, so for that reason, he entered the Eubank Jr fight unprepared to win. The only thing Benn has is rehydration provisions and a 157 lb weight.
Benn’s management set a two-weight handicap for him to try and make up for in his lack of experience and size in a bout against former IBO 168-lb champion Eubank Jr.
George Groves says: “If Eubank is having severe weight loss, it’s tiring and take it easy because he thinks he’s fighting a weight class or whatever. iFL TV when asked how Conor Benn can beat Chris Eubank Jr on October 8.
“If he’s not so right. Benn has to go in there and put pressure and make him work, go to the body and look to hit a big shot,” Groves continued on what Benn had to do to beat Eubank Jr.
“Eubank has a good chin, a great engine, good working speed, very powerful, decent strength, good hand speed. He has made some technical changes since I played him, currently working with [Roy] Jones.
‘We’ll see if they’re beneficial. I like Conor. I’ve always been a fan of Conor, and I’ve always appreciated Conor. I have to say it was an uphill battle for him. I think size wins the night.
“What is rehydration? Ten pounds is what you have to do with the fight for the IBF world title. Rehydration is something you must consider the next morning. They will weigh in at noon and the next morning at 10:00 am you will measure your dehydration.
“That means you can still put on another 10 pounds between that and fight at night when you walk the loop. You have to be careful with what you are going to play overnight. It might mean you got a good night’s sleep, but it might not.
“Eubank gained 11 kg, slept well, lost 2 kg, and a light jog in the morning lost half a kilo, gained weight and then re-hydrated.
“I can’t see Conor Benn possible. He didn’t lose 10 pounds in weights when he had just gained two weight classes. Eubank probably weighed 15 pounds more than him that night, which is a lot,” Groves said.
