Chris Eubank Sr has opened up on the emotional conversation he had with his son Chris Eubank Jr, ahead of his fight with Conor Benn.
Unlike Benn’s father Nigel, whom he fought twice in the 1990’s, Eubank Sr has not been present throughout the build-up so far to their April 26 grudge match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the relationship with his son fractured.
Eubank Sr was unsupportive of his son’s decision to fight Benn when they were originally meant to square off, before the fight was shelved on fight week after ‘The Destroyer’ failed two drug tests.
Eubank Jr slapped his rival with an egg at the first face off following a fiery press conference in Manchester and the pair were kept at a distance at the second press conference two days’ later in London to avoid any further confrontation.
Both Eubank Jr and his father were at the Brighton Centre on Friday to witness Harlem Eubank’s – the son of Chris Sr’s late brother, Simon – victory over Tyrone McKenna and Eubank Sr has delved into the conversation they had last week.
“This is not the behaviour I understand,” the 58-year-old said on his YouTube channel, Call Chris Eubank.
“Where did that come from?
“I’m supposed to be his example.
“But I spoke with him a few days ago and he said to me about this egg thing.
“He said, ‘Dad, he’s a cheat and we’re promoting the fight and these people have me under a great deal of pressure and the environment is very messy and I got pulled in.
“’In doing that, yes I premeditated it, because these people are all over me telling me that my dad doesn’t like me.
“’It’s me alone, dad, so that’s what I thought I’d do and I justified it.’”
Eubank Jr has been hit with a £100,000 fine by the British Boxing Board of Control for slapping the 28-year-old.
Benn questioned Eubank Jr’s relationship with his father during the press conferences and the former super middleweight champion has suggested that his son is experiencing the effects of what he wished for.
“I’ve not been there for this reason,” he added.
“Four or five years ago, he wanted to do it his way.
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“So what I did, I cut cold and let him do it his way, so now he knows.
“So now he’s speaking the language I would speak.”
