Chris Eubank Jr wants his father ‘back by his side’ for an expected blockbuster showdown with arch-rival Conor Benn next year.
Eubank Jr and Benn were originally supposed to meet at London’s O2 Arena back in October 2022, but the fight was cancelled at short notice after Benn failed two voluntary drugs tests.
However, the rivalry never disappeared and has ramped up significantly again in recent months, with the pair exchanging frequent barbs both on social media and face to face, having clashed most notably both before and after Eubank Jr’s win over Kamil Szeremeta in Saudi Arabia last month in which he picked up the vacant IBO middleweight title.
Benn’s provisional suspension amid a two-year battle with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) and UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) was the main barrier to such a bout finally coming to pass, though the significant hurdle has now been cleared after the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) lifted his suspension last week.
Benn - who has always denied any wrongdoing after testing positive for the banned substance clomifene - will now be focused on resuming his previously promising career having not fought since beating Peter Dobson in Las Vegas in February. He has not fought in the UK since stopping South Africa’s Chris van Heerden in Manchester in April 2022.
Eubank Jr vs Benn is expected to take place in the first half of 2025, with Turki Alalshikh previously speaking about May as a potential date for a high-profile fight that builds off the rivalry between Chris Eubank Sr and Benn’s father Nigel, two legendary British fighters of the 1980s and 90s who fought twice in memorable world-title bouts.
And Eubank Jr has now admitted that he wants his dad back with him for a massive clash with Benn, with the relationship between the duo having become notably strained in recent years.
“Him not being part of my boxing career didn't go down well,” Eubank Jr told IFL TV. “For so many years as you know, he was always right next to me or he was in front of me. That was just who he was. That was just a part of his thing.
“So, you take that away - which I did and which I had to do - and I guess he couldn't accept it. He couldn't handle it. Or he didn't want to accept it. So, that affected our relationship on a personal level. On a father and son level. Which it shouldn't.
“This is a business. This is a career. It shouldn't affect the father and son relationship. But, he doesn't know how to and he can't separate the two. So I feel like it's going to take me retiring and walking away from the sport for him to mentally connect with me again.
“Once the Conor Benn fight is made, I'll send another text and I will tell him, I want you by my side. I want you by my side dad. This is history. This is going to be the biggest fight in the UK - possibly ever. We should be in it together.”
