Eubank Jr says dehydration left him unable to function for two days after Benn fight

Chris Eubank Jr has said he was 'unable to function' for two days after defeating Conor Benn by unanimous decision in their first bout, and that his hospital stay was due to severe dehydration.

He was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after the bout in May, with initial reports focusing on a cut above his right eye. Benn, for his part, had claimed he had broken Eubank Jr's jaw. Eubank Jr was released two days later. He now says the hospital stay stemmed from dehydration that caused swelling around his face and body and left him unable to function for a day or two, describing it as a 'headache' that 'was unbearable' and noting that a drip was required for 24 to 48 hours.

The bout was staged under a 157-pound catchweight, and Eubank Jr, who has campaigned at higher weights, failed the first weigh-in by topping 160 pounds, incurring a $500,000 (£375,000) fine. A controversial 10-pound rehydration clause was written into the contract, which he met by making the fight-day weight cap of 170 pounds. The clause had sparked a brief fallout with his father, though Eubank Sr arrived with his son at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the rematch.

'I had been restricted from what I was able to eat and drink after the weigh-in, that took its toll,' Eubank Jr said, adding that the restrictions affected his performance against Benn. 'The weight loss may have left my legs not as strong as they usually are, forcing me into a dogfight where I kept punching until the referee stopped it.'

The two will meet again on November 15 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, renewing their rivalry as the build-up continues.