**Chris Eubank Sr’s Absence Casts Shadow Over Son’s High-Profile Bout Amid Family Rift**
A major British boxing event is taking place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the absence of a legendary figure has heightened the poignancy surrounding the occasion. Chris Eubank Jr is set to face Conor Benn in a contest drawing parallels to their fathers’ iconic rivalry of the 1990s. However, while Benn will have Nigel Benn at his side, Eubank Jr will be without Chris Eubank Sr, in the aftermath of a devastating family tragedy and a deep-seated rift between father and son.
For many boxing fans, the return of the Eubank and Benn names to centre stage evokes memories of two of the most dramatic fights ever witnessed on British soil. Yet beneath the sporting spectacle, a personal story of heartbreak and estrangement has emerged, threatening to overshadow the match itself.
The origins of the rift can be traced back to 2019, when Eubank Jr made the decision to distance himself professionally from his famous father. Once seen as his son’s staunchest supporter and mentor, Eubank Sr struggled to accept this change. Eubank Jr reflected, “My old man was always next to me, and it got to a stage where I decided that I needed to walk my own path. He was not happy with that decision. That’s the start of it.”
Events took a tragic turn in 2021 with the sudden death of Sebastian Eubank, Chris Jr’s younger brother, who passed away while in Dubai. The 29-year-old succumbed to a heart attack linked to a previously undiagnosed condition, shaking the family to its core. The loss, Eubank Jr shared, “destroyed a large part of the relationship” between father and son, both men finding it difficult to communicate in the wake of overwhelming grief.
The emotional strain has only grown in recent years. Eubank Jr admitted that the two have barely spoken, noting, “He has shown no interest in my career for a long period now. He’s shown no interest in me in a long period of time.” With raw honesty, he added, “As somebody who’s lost a son, I think that’s a pretty insane thing for my dad to be doing – to kind of not be speaking to your remaining kids.” Despite repeatedly being asked about their relationship over the years, Eubank Jr stated bluntly, “We’re not cool, we’re not OK, and people need to know.”
Further complicating matters is Eubank Sr’s deep concern for his son’s health, particularly surrounding the agreed fight weight for the Benn bout. Eubank Jr was notably required to make a 160lb weight limit, a target he narrowly managed after struggling with dehydration. Eubank Sr publicly condemned the requirements, arguing, “Junior is now 35 and trying to get down to 160lb and I know what that feels like. I know about the dehydration and the damage it does to fighters. I am more concerned about that than anything else.”
The build-up to the fight has been equally tumultuous. A controversial press conference saw Eubank Jr launch an egg at Benn’s face, resulting in a £100,000 fine and fierce criticism from his father. Eubank Sr was scathing: “You’re smashing an egg against this guy’s face… That’s disgraceful. I would never be in your corner. You’re a disgrace.”
As the bout approaches, questions linger over whether Eubank Sr might yet make a late appearance to support his son. Eubank Jr has expressed hope that the wounds might still heal, but so far, reconciliation remains elusive. Reflecting on the situation, he remarked, “My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, and he doesn’t speak to me. We haven’t spoken for years and he thinks I’m a disgrace. These things are what pain is to me.”
This highly anticipated fight, built on the legacy of family rivalry, is for Eubank Jr not just a sporting challenge but a deeply personal ordeal. Whether bridges can be rebuilt remains to be seen, but for now, the absence of Chris Eubank Sr is a sobering reminder that, in boxing as in life, the toughest battles are sometimes fought outside the ring.
The boxing world will watch not only to see who claims victory but also to see if, after years of turmoil and heartbreak, the Eubank family might one day find a path back to reconciliation.