Chris Eubank Jr has opened up on the estranged relationship with his father and admits that he would love for the British boxing icon to be involved in the build-up to his proposed mega-fight with Conor Benn.
Eubank Jr got back on the winning trail with a stoppage victory against Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last Saturday after 13 months out of the ring, and is now in talks to face bitter domestic rival Benn two years on from the fight falling through the first time around after the latter had tested positive for a banned substance.
Former two-weight world champion Eubank Jr – who had a memorable rivalry with Conor Benn’s dad Nigel – was heavily involved in his eldest son’s career early on, but has since drifted from the middleweight contender. The family suffered a tremendous loss back in 2021 when Eubank’s younger brother Sebastian tragically died of a heart attack.
In an emotional address on the Ariel Helwani show, the boxer admits that he and his father are still not on good terms but still holds out some hope that they can reconcile. Asked about the prospect of his dad returning to his camp ahead of the proposed showdown with Benn, he replied: “I would love him and the fact that I even have to say that is insane.
“His son is going to fight the son of his arch nemesis (from) all those years ago when he was a world champion. How is it a thing that he may not be there? But it is a thing.
“We don’t talk and he has shown no interest in my career for a long period of time now. He has shown no interest in me in a long period of time. “For a long time, I tried to act like it was cool… I got sick of that shit. It’s bullshit. We’re not cool.
“He has gone through a lot over the last few years and he is still dealing with his demons. He thinks certain things are not right or should be in a certain way. He’s not happy and this is how he is dealing with it – by not being in my life.
“For someone who has lost a son I think it’s a pretty insane thing to be doing by not speaking to your remaining kids. But he is his own man and he is dealing with his situation and all I can do is sit, wait and hope that he comes around at some point. But I can’t tell you if that will happen any time soon.”
Eubank did however reveal that he has tried to reach out to his dad in a bid to mend their relationship. “I message him every once in a while, sometimes he’ll reply with a one word answer but there is never a conversation”, he added.
“It’s sad but I am my own man and I have got massive things on my plate that I have to succeed in. So I can’t let anything like that affect me spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I have to be focused.
“Once my career is done then I can spend time worrying about other people’s feelings. But right now it’s all systems go and I have got to be me.”
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