Chris Eubank Jr. is making it clear to Eddie Hearn that he remembers their earlier bet and expects him to follow through.
Ahead of his highly anticipated grudge match against Conor Benn this Saturday in London, Eubank reminded the Matchroom Boxing boss that he is still waiting for him to honor a previously discussed £1 million (a little over $1.3 million) wager.
Eubank had originally accepted a winner-takes-all bet proposed by Hearn to Eubank`s promoter, Ben Shalom. However, Hearn later stated that the British Board of Boxing Control would fine him if he proceeded with the wager.
The topic resurfaced when Eubank brought it up again during a press conference on Thursday.
“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? Are we going to put the mil on or what?”
Eubank directly challenged Hearn, asking, “Are you going to fulfill the bet or are you going to run away like the weasel that you are?”
When Hearn attempted to respond, Eubank interrupted him, demanding a direct answer instead of any preamble.
Eubank explained Hearn’s apparent excuse: “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 then offered an alternative: “How about I make it easier for you? 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. 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 finally Hearn`s turn to speak, he did not accept Eubank`s proposal.
“As I said to your promoter over there,” Hearn replied, referring to Ben Shalom. “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.”
This response did not satisfy Eubank, who accused Hearn of breaking his word 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 retorted.
Tensions have been high in the build-up to Eubank vs. Benn, a fight long anticipated partly due to the legacy of their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who had a famous championship rivalry in the early 1990s. Eubank Jr. is scheduled to defend his recently acquired IBO middleweight title against Benn in Saturday’s main event.
