Chris Eubank Jr took aim at Conor Benn’s positive drug tests in their pre-fight press conference.
The pair are due to settle a long-running dispute at Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, more than two years after their originally planned fight was cancelled as Benn failed a pair of voluntary drugs tests.
Eubank was characteristically bullish as he spoke ahead of Saturday’s fight, throwing his weight around as he spoke down to Benn and kept promoter Eddie Hearn from talking at all.
Eubank said: “I prepared my whole life for these moments. I have put the time in. I dedicated decades to this sport, and I have done it all without cheating, without cutting any corners, and I am proud of that.”
He continued, directly addressing Benn: “You will be at school on Saturday night, I'll be the headmaster and you'll be in detention.”
The fight’s weight class and rehydration clause have been central to the event’s build-up. Eubank has had to shed weight to make the 160lb target, down from his usual 174lbs, and will face a $1million fine should he put on more than 10lbs between the weigh-in and the fight.
But he said the pain that came with the cut is nothing compared to other ‘tribulations’ he has faced in his life, including the estrangement of his father and death of his brother.
“The weight is painful, I'm in pain right now, I'll be in even more pain tonight and tomorrow morning.
“If I can deal with all these trials and tribulations, then the weight cut is not an issue, not important.”
In closing, he said he felt a duty to beat Benn.
“[Benn] should have taken the chance he had in that first fight when I was underestimating, playing.
“That was his best shot, and now it's gone because now I have a duty to box him to the public.
“I have a duty to erase them from the picture.”
In the face of Eubank’s poetics, Benn opted to do the bulk of his talking in the ring.
His closing remarks were brief but pointed: “I won’t lower myself to [Eubank]. I’m excited to get in there and put my hands on him on Saturday night.
“I’m going to knock his head off.”
Benn had his suspension lifted in November after a two-year battle with anti-doping authorities and has maintained his innocence throughout.
