Sports
Chris Eubank Sr breaks down as he demands son’s Conor Benn fight be cancelled
Chris Eubank Sr has made an emotional plea for his son’s upcoming fight with Conor Benn to be banned, breaking down in tears during recent interviews.
The boxing legend fears for the safety of both fighters due to the significant weight disparity between them.
The highly anticipated bout is scheduled to take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, April 26.
Eubank Sr has labelled the contest a “disgrace” and a “farce” that puts both men at serious risk.
Chris Eubank Sr was emotional talking about his son
IFLTV
Benn will be moving up from his usual 147lbs welterweight division to the middleweight limit of 160lbs for the contest.
Eubank Jr, who has previously fought at 168lbs, will need to drop down to make the agreed weight.
This disparity has alarmed Eubank Sr, who believes the weight difference puts both fighters at risk of serious injury.
The fight was originally scheduled for October 2022 at 157lbs but was cancelled after Benn failed two drugs tests.
Eubank Sr’s concerns stem from his own experience with Michael Watson, who suffered life-threatening brain damage after their 1991 bout.
Watson spent 40 days in a coma and has endured significant health challenges for over three decades.
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Speaking at a charity walk for Watson, Eubank Sr said: “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.”
“We can’t have any more Michael Watsons. He is the people’s champion.”
In an emotional interview with iFL TV, Eubank Sr revealed his son is ignoring his warnings.
“He won’t listen to me,” he said, fighting back tears. “He is looking at all the money.”
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Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26PA
The 58-year-old added: “My son will not listen. For him, he’s being drawn into the however many millions, the money he’s being paid.”
The fight has become increasingly personal in recent months, with Eubank Jr branding Benn a “cheat” following his failed drugs tests.
At their February press conference, Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg after Benn had suggested eating too many eggs may have caused his positive tests.
Both fighters claim the bout has become more personal than just a legacy fight between sons of famous boxing rivals.
Eubank Sr, however, dismisses this narrative, insisting: “What hate? It’s just money. There’s no hate.”
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Eubank Sr has vowed not to attend the fight, stating: “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.”
He has called on the Boxing Board of Control to intervene and enforce boxing regulations.
“It’s a disgrace,” he said. “You all need to say it, and you all need to make the Boxing Board of Control do their job.”
“The fight is not going to happen. How can I attend the fight that’s not going to happen?”