Why will Chris Eubank Sr not be at son’s fight with Conor Benn? Family fall-out explained

It is a grudge match that has been billed as a continuation of the family rivalry started by their fathers, who fought twice in the 1990s.

However, while Nigel Benn has been by his son’s side throughout the build-up and will be with him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chris Eubank Snr is not expected to be in the stadium.

As was the case two-and-a-half years ago when this fight was first scheduled to take place, Eubank Snr has publicly voiced his disapproval of the bout and insisted it should not be taking place.

When did fall-out between Eubank Sr and Eubank Jr start?

Eubank Sr was front and centre for some of the biggest nights of his son’s career, but he has not been in the corner since 2019.

Explaining that decision earlier this year, Eubank Jr said: “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.”

Eubank Jr also revealed that the death of his brother Sebastian, at the age of 29 in 2021, “destroyed a large part of the relationship”, due to the added strain put on the family.

Speaking in October, he said: “We don’t talk, he has shown no interest in my career for a long period of time now. He’s shown no interest in me in a long period of time.

“As somebody who’s lost a son, I think that’s a pretty insane thing [for my dad] to be doing, an insane way to be acting – to kind of not be speaking to your remaining kids.

“You know what? For a long time, I tried to kind of act like it was cool. People would ask me, ‘How’s your dad?’ ‘Yeah, we’re good.’ But I got sick of that s***, man. It’s b******. We’re not cool, we’re not OK, and people need to know.”

Chris Eubank Jr spoke of the “pain” caused by his father’s comments

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What has Eubank Sr said about this fight?

Eubank Sr made it clear in the build-up to the planned fight between his son and Benn in 2022 that he felt the bout should not be allowed.

He pointed to the significant weight cut being asked of Eubank Jr to reach 157lbs, and he has similar concerns this time even with the limit being raised by three pounds.

“Junior is now 35 and trying to get down to 160lb and I know what that feels like,” Eubank Sr said. “I know about the dehydration and the damage it does to fighters.

“I am more concerned about that than anything else. I don’t want my son getting down to 160lb. And that is why I have spoken about people trying to murder my boy by boiling him down to 157lb.

“Trying to boil my son down to 157lb a few years ago, would have killed him.”

Those fears over the weight have kept Eubank Sr from being involved in the build-up, but he has also hit out at the conduct of his son.

Chris Eubank Jr slapped Conor Benn in the face with an egg

Richard Sellers/PA Wire

Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg at a press conference earlier this year, leading to a £100k fine, but his father has called for further action: “He must have his licence revoked.”

Eubank Sr added: “You’re smashing an egg against this guy’s face I taught you that? I didn’t teach you that. Who taught you that? Did Karen [Eubank Jr’s mother] teach you that?

“That’s disgraceful. I’m going to stand in your corner? You must be mad. I would never be in your corner. You’re a disgrace.

Despite the outbursts, Eubank Jr has continued to state this week that he still holds out hope his father will have a change of heart and be by his side on Saturday night.

“My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, and he doesn’t speak to me,” Eubank Jr said at Thursday’s press conference.

“We haven’t spoken for years and he thinks I’m a disgrace. These things are what pain is to me.”

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