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Chris Eubank Jr. wants Eddie Hearn to know he hasn’t forgotten about a past wager.
Ahead of his highly anticipated grudge match against Conor Benn this Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Eubank reminded Hearn that he’s still waiting for the Matchroom Boxing boss to follow through on a previously discussed £1 million (a little over $1.3 million) bet.
Eubank responded to a challenge Hearn made to Eubank’s promoter Ben Shalom, agreeing to the winner-takes-all bet, but Hearn later said the British Board of Boxing Control would fine him if he went through with the wager.
The topic was raised again by Eubank at a press conference Thursday. Watch that clip below.
“I’m confident,” Eubank said. “I still want that million-pound bet that Eddie Hearn said he wanted to do. Eddie, what’s up, man? We going to put the mil on or what?”
“Are you going to fulfill the bet or are you going to run away like the weasel that you are?” Eubank added.
When Hearn attempted to step to the microphone to speak, Eubank cut him off for beginning with preamble as opposed to immediately answering Eubank’s question.
“I’ll tell you what, so his excuse at the moment is he’s going to get fined £100,000 by the board if he bets and that’s why he can’t bet me this million pounds that he said publicly that he wanted to do,” Eubank said. “So, how about I make it easier for you and I’ll put the million up and you put £900,000 up so I’ve covered the £100K fine that you’re going to get that you can’t afford to pay and let’s get it on that way. Let’s put the money in escrow tonight and winner takes all on Saturday, how about that?”
When it was eventually his turn to speak, Hearn didn’t take the bait.
“As I said to your promoter over there,” Hearn said. “We will have a conversation with [BBBofC general secretary Robert W. Smith]. If I won’t face any penalties on my license, we can consider it. In the meantime, get back to the hotel, take that weight off, and get prepared to get an absolute spanking on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur.”
The answer wasn’t satisfying for Eubank, who accused Hearn of reneging on the proposed bet.
“Always a way to weasel your way out of what you’re supposed to be doing, which is honoring your word,” Eubank said.
Tensions have been high for Eubank vs. Benn, who have long been tied to a potential matchup after their fathers Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn fought in a pair of championship bouts in the early ‘90s. Eubank Jr. defends his recently won IBO middleweight title against Benn in Saturday’s main event.
Watch the full press conference and the Eubank vs. Benn faceoff below.
