Chris Eubank Jr has opened on the fractured relationship with her father, the British boxing legend Chris Eubank SR, revealing that the couple has fought to connect from the tragic death of her brother Sebastián in 2021.
Speaking before his successful confrontation with Conor Benn on April 26, Eubank JR admitted that his father's probable absence would feel from his corner, but the distance between them is much deeper than boxing.
Eubank Jr and Benn are ready to rekindle the fierce rivalry of their families at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, more than three decades after their parents faced each other in the ring.
Nigel Benn, who fought with Eubank SR twice in the 1990s, will be next to his son on the night of fighting, but there is no certainty that Eubank SR is there for his own son.
Discussing the crack between him and his father in Piers Morgan without censorship, Eubank Jr revealed that his desire to forge his own path was the first important wedge among them.
“He reached a stage where he needed to get out of the shadow completely,” he said, sitting next to Conor Benn, with security guards who separated the couple.
Chris Eubank JR (in the photo) opened this week about the death of his brother and how the tragic event in 2021 affected his relationship with Father Chris Eubank SR
Eubank JR in the photo with his father before a fight with Billy Joe Saunders in 2014
The former two -weight world champion Chris Eubank SR represented after his son became the medium -weight champion Ibo to defeat James Degale in 2019
'It is a great shadow. (Conor is) also in a great shadow. Mine was also a blessing, but it reached a stage in which I realized: “I have to separate from this great character that is always by my side.”
'(Conor is) different. His father let him do his own and jump and sink or swim. My old man was always by my side, and reached a stage where I decided that I needed to walk my own path. I was not happy with that decision. That is the beginning.
While the decision to distance his father was difficult, Eubank JR admitted that the true turning point occurred after the sudden death of his younger brother, Sebastian, in 2021.
The 29 -year -old was found dead on a beach in Dubai, a tragedy that had a deep impact on his whole family.
'Then you have the situation with my deceased brother. That affected it in a deep way: it affected us all. Mental health is something real, 'said Eubank Jr.
'That incident, along with the fact that we were no longer seeing eyes, destroyed a large part of the relationship. And it still does not seem to have recovered.
Eubank JR admitted that he has made efforts to rebuild the link, but it is not clear if his father is willing to correspond.
'Of course (I have contacted). No, no, he didn't (he hasn't rejected me). He needs to overcome the demons he is fighting.
Eubank Jr and Conor Benn were separated by security guards at Piers Morgan without censorship
Conor Benn (right) in the photo with his father, Nigel Benn, last month at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium before the April fight against Eubank JR in the same place
'Now, this fight will allow you to overcome those demons or unfortunately will make those demons grow. I don't know.'
Despite his tense relationship, Eubank Jr still expects his father to be there to support him when he enters the ring against Benn.
'I still hope it is there at night, as will be the old man (Benn). Honestly, I don't know. I hope and pray to be (there), and I will do things to try to take it there. But if it is not, guess what? I'm still going out and do the job.
The family crack has become an underlying story before the long -awaited fight, which was initially scheduled for 2022 before Benn failed two drug tests.
His clash has spent years in process, but while Benn has his father firmly in his corner, Eubank Jr is still waiting to see if his call responds to the call.