**Chris Eubank Sr Speaks Out on Rift With Son as He Opposes Conor Benn Fight**
Chris Eubank Sr, the iconic British boxer and two-time world champion, has openly expressed his concern for his son Chris Eubank Jr’s welfare as the latter prepares to face Conor Benn—calling for their much-anticipated bout to be called off. This opposition marks a deeply personal moment in the ongoing and well-publicised strain between father and son, casting a shadow over the latest chapter in British boxing’s family rivalries.
The Eubank family saga has played out in the public eye for years, with Chris Eubank Sr not only shaping his son’s early boxing career but becoming an omnipresent figure at ringside, press conferences, and in the training environment. However, since 2019, Eubank Sr has been conspicuously absent, with a family rift driving a wedge between the once-formidable father-son duo. This estrangement, according to both parties, has been difficult to overcome.
Reflecting on the changed dynamics, Chris Eubank Jr was candid about the transformation in their relationship. Speaking last year, he remarked that his father’s absence was “crazy”, especially after years of deep involvement in every aspect of his career. He cited his own need for autonomy as the turning point: “I had to step out of that cycle… I had learned enough and had done enough in the game to do my own thing, to walk my own path and not follow someone else.” Eubank Jr implied that the divide was fuelled, in part, by his father’s struggle to separate his paternal and managerial roles.
The family’s pain was compounded in 2021 when Chris Eubank Jr’s younger brother, Sebastian, tragically passed away while in Dubai. Eubank Jr spoke emotionally about the impact of this loss, stating that “mental health is a real thing” and that his father has struggled profoundly in the aftermath. He told Piers Morgan on Uncensored: “That incident, coupled with the fact we were already not seeing eye to eye, destroyed a large part of the relationship. And it still doesn’t seem to have recovered.”
Despite these personal struggles, the limelight now falls on Eubank Jr’s upcoming clash with Conor Benn—a contest reviving the historic 1990s rivalry between their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn. While Eubank Jr maintains that he is ready for the fight and open to reconciliation, even pleading for his father’s presence at the bout, Eubank Sr has taken a firm stand against it. Unlike the animosity many attribute to old bad blood, Eubank Sr’s opposition centres on health and safety, objecting to the catchweight set for the fight. Eubank Jr is a natural middleweight, typically fighting at 160lbs, while Benn comes up from the welterweight division at 147lbs. Even with strict hydration clauses to minimise weight disparity, Eubank Sr remains steadfast in his warning: “Weights fight the same weights… They’re breaking the rules, and when you break the rules, we have a country of baboons. This is Great Britain. We developed boxing. So, stick to the rules.”
It is, perhaps, a poignant reminder that Eubank Sr’s reservations echo broader debates within the sport regarding weight classes and fighter safety. Yet, for Eubank Jr, the fight is another opportunity to step out of his famous father’s shadow and establish his own legacy. “I’m getting ready for the biggest fight of my life. If you want to be next to me… we can do it together. If not, no hard feelings, I’ll get the job done for you — don’t worry about it,” said Eubank Jr, capturing both his independence and enduring affection for his father.
Reports suggest the Eubank men have started to reconnect recently, notably when they attended an event in Brighton where Jr’s cousin, Harlem Eubank, scored a knockout victory. Chris Eubank Sr told Ring Magazine, “Seeing him again, I could tell he’s grown. There’s a wisdom in his face and demeanour that wasn’t there before. No matter what has happened, I will always have Jr’s back.”
As British boxing prepares for another chapter in its rich history, the story of the Eubanks demonstrates how the drama within the ropes can be matched by the complexity of life outside them. Whether Saturday’s bout with Conor Benn will mark a reconciliation or deepen the divide remains to be seen, but the enduring love and concern between father and son is unquestionable. Boxing fans and pundits alike will no doubt be watching Saturday’s events with great interest, mindful of the personal stakes on the line as much as the professional ones.