Sports
Real Reason Chris Eubank Jr’s Family Want Him to Retire From Boxing Forever
More of Chris Eubank Jr‘s family members are advising that he should retire from boxing forever.
The 36-year-old has made millions many times over from competing within the sport, and has taken part in some memorable domestic clashes against Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves, and James DeGale. More recently, he captivated the attention of the British public because of his dramatic, two-fight series with generational rival Conor Benn.
The first fight earlier in the year was a back-and-forth battle with Eubank winning convincingly with three scores of 116-112. However, the rematch, which took place on Saturday, the 14th of November, showed noticeable improvements from Benn and rapid deterioration from Eubank, who appeared to fight on spent legs through weight-draining.
It was not long before Eubank’s father, Chris Eubank Sr, as well as his cousin, Harlem, had their say on what Jr should do next.
Family Members Say Chris Eubank Jr Should Retire
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Harlem Eubank — himself a pro fighter who returns to the ring on the 21st of November for a welterweight fight against Josh Wagner atop a Wasserman card on Channel 5 in the UK — said his cousin has nothing left to prove in boxing.
Eubank said Chris Jr’s bout with Benn “wasn’t easy to watch” because he “was unable to do what he can usually do in the ring. You could see that he wasn’t a fraction of the fighter he really is from round one.
“I hope he takes some time to relax and see the issues he has going on,” added Harlem. “He should take some time to reflect on how far he’s come. He’s achieved so much in the sport and I don’t think he has much left to prove.”
“After the last fight I said I don’t want to see him taking shots anymore as a family member.”
He finished: “But he’s a fighter. The spirit of a fighter is what he’s always had, and you can’t take someone’s character away from them. It will always be up to him and him alone on what he chooses to do, and I will support that.”
This echoes what Chris Eubank Sr has wanted since the aftermath of the first fight with Benn, earlier this year, when he implored his son to retire there and then. Jr, prior to the rematch, had made no indication that he’d retire following the do-over, though.
Speaking immediately after the loss to Benn, Eubank Jr said: “I’ve been through hell and back to make it here. I genuinely thought that regardless of the issues that I have been dealing with, I would be able to go in there and win, use my boxing skills and use what I used in the first fight to beat Conor Benn. From that first round, I realised that I was mistaken, but it’s OK. I’m a fighter and this is what I do. Regardless of the dangers and the risk, we go to war and that’s what we do.”
When asked what was next for him, and whether retirement was on the table, Jr said: “We’re not talking about that right now. This is not about me. This night is about Conor. He did what he needed to do to win and he fought a great fight.”
He later added:
“I need to heal, I need to deal with what I am dealing with and then after that, I can start thinking about my path in the sport.”
Chris Eubank Jr’s Punch Stats From Conor Benn Rematch Are Genuinely Shocking
The punch stats for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 are genuinely shocking to read.
