Chris Eubank Sr has called for his son’s grudge match with Conor Benn to be cancelled again due to fears over the safety of both men.
Eubank Jr and Benn were due to face each other in October 2022 but the bout was scrapped during fight week after Benn failed two drugs tests.
Two-and-a-half years on, they are finally set to meet in the ring next Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a fight contested at the middleweight limit of 160lbs.
Eubank Sr raised reservations about the first fight happening at 157lbs back in 2022, with Benn coming up from 147lbs while Eubank Jr has previously fought at 168lbs, and is no more convinced that this month’s contest should go ahead.
Speaking at a charity walk for his former opponent Michael Watson, who spent 40 days in a coma and was left with significant brain damage after their 1991 rematch, Eubank Sr has called for authorities to ban the fight between his son and Benn to prevent either man suffering a similar fate to Watson.
‘They’re putting a fight on that is against the law of boxing,’ an emotional Eubank Sr told Mail Sport.
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are set to fight each other next weekend, two-and-a-half years on from their fight being cancelled when Benn failed two drugs tests
Chris Eubank Sr has called for the fight to be banned as he is worried about potential brain damage
Michael Watson (right) suffered brain damage after his 1991 rematch with Eubank Sr, who is now concerned his son or Benn could suffer a similar fate if their fight goes ahead
‘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?
‘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.’
Interest in the fight has skyrocketed in recent months, with Eubank Jr branding his rival a cheat after his failed drugs tests and smashing him around the face with an egg at their launch press conference in February after Benn had bizarrely claimed eating too many of them may have caused his positive tests.
Both men have claimed the bout has become more personal after initially being a fight sold on family legacy after Eubank and Benn Sr fought twice in the 1990s.
But Eubank Sr is not buying it, and insists the fight is being driven purely by money. He also revealed he has repeated this message to his son for years, but it has fallen on deaf ears.
‘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.
Eubank Jr hit Benn with an egg at their launch press conference in February, and both men claim the fight has become more personal
Eubank Sr feels there is no hate between his son and Benn, and has vowed not to attend the fight to support Eubank Jr
‘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.’
Benn’s father Nigel is expected to be in his son’s corner on fight night, and there has been speculation that Eubank Sr could reconcile with his own son to support him from ringside.
But Eubank Sr has ruled that out, insisting he will not be in attendance as the fight won’t be allowed to take place.
‘The fight is not going to happen. How can I attend the fight that’s not going to happen?’ Eubank Sr asked.
‘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.’
