Chris Eubank Sr has insisted that Conor Benn is a ‘superior fighter’ to his son – even if he lost via unanimous decision on Saturday night.
In a thrilling contest in London, Chris Eubank Jr won 116-112 on all three scorecards to inflict a first career defeat on Benn, ending his opponent’s run of 23 wins.
Benn usually fights at welterweight, two classes below the middleweight category for the fight, and Eubank Sr criticised the fighters’ need for drastic physical changes in the build-up.
He has now also hit out at Benn’s management for ‘destroying’ his career, insisting the world is his oyster at 147lbs, but not 160lbs.
‘The performance? Championship rounds, standing toe-to-toe, the credit I want to give to Conor, I told you he was a superior fighter,’ Eubank Sr told talkSPORT.
‘But he shouldn’t be fighting at 160 or 156. He’s a 147 fighter. What couldn’t he do around the world?
Chris Eubank Jr says Conor Benn is a ‘superior fighter’ to his son – despite his defeat
Benn stepped up two weight classes to contest the bought, something Eubank Sr opposes
‘He’s been destroyed by the people who are handling him and they have to be brought to account. Do your job, do your job, do your job.’
Eubank Sr shocked the boxing world by turning up at all for the bout.
He had threateend to boycott the dust-up after expressing fears over the safety of the fight, and also branding his son ‘disgraceful’ for slapping his opponent with an egg in a February press conference.
The 58-year-old had even called for the fight to be cancelled, but insisted his threats to stay away were all part of the spectacle.
‘I was always going to be here for my son, irrespective of what you thought,’ he added to talkSPORT.
‘It’s a show, so suspense is part of the game.’
In the build-up to the controversial bout, which would have gone ahead in October 2022 had Benn not failed two drugs tests, Eubank Sr exclusively told Mail Sport: ‘They’re putting a fight on that is against the law of boxing.
‘You have a person at 147, going on to Piers Morgan talking about the fact that he is going to go up to 160 and then come back down afterwards. Have you not read the rules? Has your promoter not shown you that there are rules to say you can’t do that?
Chris Eubank Jr won 116-112 on all three scorecards, and Eubank Sr believes Benn’s bosses have ‘destroyed his career’
Eubank Sr had called for the fight to be banned as he was worried about potential brain damage
Michael Watson (right) suffered brain damage after his 1991 rematch with Eubank Sr, who was concerned his son or Benn could suffer a similar fate if their fight went ahead
Eubank Jr was taken to hospital via ambulance for precautionary checks after the fight, with Benn claiming he had suffered a ‘broken jaw’
‘Those rules are in place to keep you safe and keep my son safe from ending up from what Michael Watson is having to endure and has been enduring for the last 32, 33, 34 years.
‘There has to be rules and I’m going to be the lawman to put these rules in the minds of the people. And I’m holding these reporters to account. You have to support the rules.
‘I told my son three years ago, that fight does not happen,’ Eubank Sr continued. ‘He is the wrong weight. I told him why it shouldn’t happen and why it will not happen. I was correct last time and I will be correct this time.
‘We can’t have any more Michael Watsons. He is the people’s champion. You are getting blinded by this circus put on by these promoters. Barry (Hearn), your son (Eddie Hearn) said there’s real hate now. What hate? It’s just money. There’s no hate.
‘The hate is in the promoters’ mindset. I wish you (Chris Jr) would listen but I know you won’t.’
In a separate interview with iFL TV, Eubank Sr fought to hold back tears as he labelled the fight ‘a disgrace’, and urged people to come forward to stop it happening, as he reiterated the message that his son is only interested in the financial reward.
‘It’s a disgrace,’ said Eubank Sr. ‘You all need to say it, and you all need to make the Boxing Board of Control do their job. We can’t run amok. We are not a country of baboons.
‘He’s (Jr) looking at only the money. My son will not listen.’
Forecasting his non-attendance in advance, which turned out to be a falsity, he said: ‘The fight is not going to happen. How can I attend the fight that’s not going to happen?
‘If I go along with what they’re doing, if I’m in my son’s corner, then I’m an accomplice to the foolishness. That, I can’t do.’
