2 days Ago By [email protected] (Jake Bayliss)
Chris Eubank Jr has issued an emotional appeal to reconcile with his father after confessing he no longer speaks to the boxing legend. The IBO middleweight champion last had his father in his corner in 2019 and voiced his regret over their estrangement, which seemingly deepened after he chose to drop down in weight for his proposed bout against Conor Benn in 2022 - a match with ties to the historic rivalry between Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn. The former world champion has not been part of his son's coaching team for several years, and Eubank Jr's decision has led to ongoing familial tension.
It's been a challenging few years for the Eubanks, as Snr's son Sebastian passed away in 2021 at the age of 29, followed by the death of his brother Simon. Aiming to reunite with his dad, Eubank Jr spoke openly about their relationship and sent a heartfelt message to the icon of the ring. READ MORE: Jake Paul accused of breaking rules in Mike Tyson fight READ MORE: I'm a Celebrity star Barry McGuigan left crushed by daughter's tragic death "No, my father is currently not part of my life, unfortunately.
I wish it was different, I wish it was something I could change, but it doesn't seem like that's a possibility at this exact moment in time," Eubank Jr told iFL TV . "Who knows? Maybe once the Conor Benn fight's announced, that will spur up some type of conversation, some type of feeling that he might need to reconnect with me, but as of right now, I don't hear from him, unfortunately." Eubank Jr is hoping to reschedule his grudge match with Benn and shared what he planned to tell his father, continuing: "Once the Conor Benn fight is made, I'll send another text, and I'll tell him, 'I want you by my side'.
"I want you by my side, dad. This is history, it's going to be the biggest fight in the UK, possibly ever. We should be in it together.
So, we'll see what happens." Throughout Eubank Snr's time as his son's coach, the two were inseparable, often appearing on TV together. Despite Eubank Jr's desire to create his own legacy, he does not want to shut his dad out of his life, insisting: "The door is always open to be my father.
" However, the 35-year-old admitted that his decision to have more control over his career unsettled their previous father-and-son dynamic. "I think him not being part of my boxing career, it didn't go down well with him," Eubank Jr said. "For so many years, he was always right next to me or he was in front of me.
That was who he was, that was his thing, so you take that away, 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 because this is a business, this is a career.
It shouldn't affect the father-and-son relationship, but he can't separate the two. "I feel like it's going to take me retiring and walking away from the sport for him to actually mentally connect with me again, and I hope that's not the case. I'm planning on being around for a fair amount of time more, but that's how it's looking in this moment in time.
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