Chris Eubank Sr has launched a fresh attack on his son ahead of his showdown with Conor Benn.
Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will finally settle their differences at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, 35 years after Nigel and Eubank Sr fought for the first time to kickstart an epic family rivalry.
Eubank Sr won their first fight before the rematch was scored a draw three years later. This weekend, Nigel will be at ringside to support his son, but Eubank Sr has vowed to stay away after branding his son ‘a disgrace’ for slapping Conor with an egg at the launch press conference for their fight in February.
‘Next Gen’, who was fined £100,000 for the stunt, has since admitted that his strained relationship with his father is ‘painful’.
However, Eubank Sr has again slammed Jr, telling The Sun: ‘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.
Chris Eubank Sr has launched a fresh attack on his son ahead of his clash with Conor Benn
Eubank Sr claims ‘Next Gen’ (left) ‘has never understood what boxing is about’
Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will finally settle their differences on Saturday night
‘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.’
Eubank Jr narrowly missed the middleweight limit ahead of his highly anticipated bout with his long-time rival, tipping the scales just half an ounce over the 160lb threshold during Friday’s official weigh-in.
Eubank Sr, who was a two-weight world champion in his own right, told Mail Sport last week that his son is fighting in the ‘wrong’ weight category.
He was angry that Eubank Jr agreed to fight Benn at 157lbs in October 2022 before the bout was cancelled due to Benn failing two drugs tests, and was not happy to see him back at 160lbs for Saturday’s fight, as he raised concerns about his son’s health.
‘I told my son three years ago, that fight does not happen,’ Eubank Sr said. ‘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.’
