Billy Joe Saunders was denied entry to Chris Eubank Jr’s dressing room at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
Less than two hours before Eubank Jr’s fight with Conor Benn, Saunders attempted to gain access to where his former rival was preparing.
But security blocked his path, before fiery words were exchanged.
Saunders claimed that he wanted to get in to inspect Eubank Jr’s gloves to ensure ‘fair wrapping, no cheating’.
Saunders was told that there was already one of Benn’s team members in there.
However, this did not satisfy Saunders, who asked: ‘What team member’s in there? Because under Conor’s orders… listen bruv, you’re a nobody, just like an old big bouncer.’
Billy Joe Saunders (centre) threatened to ‘splatter’ one of Chris Eubank Jr’s security guards
The outburst took place outside Eubank’s dressing room at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
After being told firmly by said old big bouncer that he was not coming inside, Saunders asked provocatively multiple times: ‘What are you going to do?’
Saunders then went on to repeat: ‘You’re a nobody’, adding: ‘I’d write you off in seconds. Big nose. Look at the state of you.’
As Saunders was ushered away, he continued his aggressive rant by telling the member of security staff: ‘Do you know you, do you know when you’re outside, you come to me big boy. I’ll splatter you.’
Reacting to footage of Saunders being denied entry to Eubank’s dressing room, seemingly without the benefit of the audio, former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson said on Sky Sports: ‘At the end of the day, if they don’t want to let him in, they will just not let him in.
‘They will have to get a replacement. So the Eubanks will say: “He’s not coming in. What can you do? If you want this fight to happen, you’ve got to find somebody else.”‘
The incident underscores the long-standing animosity between Saunders and Eubank Jr, dating back to their 2014 British middleweight title bout, which Saunders won by split decision.
Saunders, who has not fought since his 2021 loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, is a close friend and former gym-mate of Conor Benn.
He has been supporting Benn in the lead-up to the fight and was expected to be part of Benn’s team on the night.
Saunders responded aggressively when the security guard (right) refused to let him into Eubank Jr’s dressing room ahead of Saturday’s fight against Connor Benn
Saunders beat Eubank Jr via split decision back in 2014 and their rivalry has never really died
In another dramatic twist, Chris Eubank Sr stunned fans by appearing alongside his son ahead of the main event, despite previously vowing to have no involvement in the fight.
Eubank Sr had publicly criticised the decision to match Eubank Jr against Benn, fearing the weight difference could seriously endanger the younger fighter’s health.
However, just hours before ring walks, the legendary former world champion was shown arriving at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his son, prompting huge cheers from the crowd when they appeared on the big screen.
Footage later captured Nigel and Conor Benn watching the Eubanks’ arrival from their own dressing room, heightening the sense of occasion around a fight loaded with family history.
Speaking to DAZN, Eubank Sr said: ‘This is the show, this is what we do’, suggesting his dramatic entrance may have been part of the plan all along.
Eubank Jr had admitted earlier this week that his strained relationship with his father had caused him real pain, revealing they had not spoken in years and that Sr believed he was a ‘disgrace’.
