Chris Eubank Jr has never understood what boxing is about, slams his dad ahead of controversial Conor Benn fight

The Sun

26-04-2025

Tony Robertson, Digital Sports Reporter
Published: Invalid Date,
CHRIS EUBANK JR has been slammed by his dad for "never understanding what boxing is about".
"Next Gen" is set to face off with Conor Benn in the ring tonight at the Tottenham Hostpur Stadium, but unlike his rival he will not have his legendary dad behind him.
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The Eubanks have been at odds with one another since 2019, with Eubank Jr, 35, revealing he does not speak to his old man anymore after years of idolising him.
The Hove hitman, who has taken drastic measures after failing to make the weight for the 160lbs middleweight clash, has admitted he hopes his father has a change of heart and turns up for fight night.
However, his former middleweight and super-middleweight champion dad has revealed what he thinks of his son's boxing career in no uncertain terms.
Speaking exclusively on SunSport's Behind The Gloves series, Eubank, 58, said: "Junior has never understood what boxing is about. Boxing is about being the chief in the community.
"The people will look up to you if you achieve what I'm trying to get you to. It isn't this (money making gesture) I'm trying to get you to.
"I'm trying to get you to the point where the hearts of the people are with you. I'm no longer liked, I'm loved.
"Why? Because I've been a gentleman right the way through on every single subject that has come in front of me."
The father and son rift has shown no signs of healing during the build-up to the fight - despite this bout opening another chapter in the more than three-decade-old Eubank-Benn rivalry.
In fact, the relationship has deteriorated so much that Eubank called for his son's boxing licence to be revoked after Jr cracked an egg over Benn's face in a February press conference.
Indeed, Eubank Sr is no fan of the fight taking place at all, previously labelling it a "disgrace" and accusing his son of "making a mockery" of the family legacy as he faced an uphill battle to make the weight.
Eubank continued: "Once you reach the top, you don't sell out. You keep your position. Because once you have reached the top it means you are a person who has inspired people.
"That you have the power to steer people correctly, in the right direction. I would never sell that for money to get back in the ring.
"You know what's really frustrating; I've been on these tours where you speak about boxing and I've asked the audience to ask me what I'm doing now, because obviously, if I got that far then perhaps I actually reached for something else.
"I did and I got there. I'm here. So what is that? I'm a teacher, I'm a seer. And the seeing I do is for your benefit. This is the way in which I entertain, because it's fascinating."
After it was revealed Eubank Jr agonisingly missed the weight mark by 0.05lbs and then 0.02lbs, he will need to pay a huge £375,000 fine to Benn as per the terms of their contract.
However, he insists the pain of missing the weight and the subsequent correction techniques, including wrapping himself up in insulated sleeping bags and training on an exercise bike while wearing a sweatsuit, are nothing compared to losing the support of his dad and losing his brother.
Speaking about his strained relationship with his father and pain he has felt in recent years, including two family tragedies, Jr said: "What is pain, though?
"I have a 31-year old brother who is buried in the desert in Dubai, that is pain. I have his son, three years old, he asks why can't I see my daddy? Why can't he take me to school? That is pain.
'My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, and he doesn't speak to me. We haven't spoken in years and he thinks I'm a disgrace. These things are what pain is to me."
Talking about his dad in October, Jr said: "We don't talk, he has shown no interest in my career for a long period of time now. He's shown no interest in me in a long period of time.
"As somebody who's lost a son, I think that's a pretty insane thing [for my dad] to be doing, an insane way to be acting – to kind of not be speaking to your remaining kids."
Watch Sun Sport's full preview of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn - with former world champion George Groves, Chris Eubank Sr and Harlem Eubank - on our YouTube channel.