The long-standing rivalry between the Eubank and Benn families took a dramatic turn on Thursday, as the fathers of the main event fighters stole the spotlight at a heated final press conference ahead of Saturday's blockbuster rematch.
A New Generation, An Old Feud
This weekend, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are set to run it back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the same venue where Eubank Jr secured a points victory over his domestic rival in a thrilling encounter back in April. This second chapter in their rivalry unfolds more than three decades after their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, concluded their own legendary series of fights.
The presence of the senior fighters added a potent, historical dimension to the proceedings. Eubank Sr, who made a surprise appearance at his son's first fight with Benn, attended the final press conference for the first time in this particular rivalry, setting the stage for a fiery exchange.
Fathers Trade Barbs Over Payment Claims
The verbal sparring wasn't limited to the boxers in the main event. A significant portion of the conference was dominated by a war of words between the two patriarchs. The conflict ignited when Eubank Sr directly addressed rumours, reportedly circulated by Talksport host Jim White, that he was paid a substantial sum of £250,000 to attend the first fight in April.
"If a father takes money, nothing wrong with that," Eubank Sr stated. "But if there's a father who doesn't take money – none – then that is to be studied. Study that. You can't pay me anything; I'm here for heart." He went on to accuse Nigel Benn of being a "liar" for repeating the claim, demanding he "expose that lie" to clear his name.
Nigel Benn, for his part, appeared dismissive of the entire exchange. "I'm not really paying attention to what [Eubank Sr] says, it's just going over my head," he retorted. "We're here to talk about a fight, my son fighting. Nothing else."
The tension was momentarily broken by Conor Benn, who jokingly suggested the two elders should have a face-off of their own, a challenge to which his father readily agreed, "I don't mind having a face-off!"
Promotional Drama and Pre-Fight Antics
The drama wasn't confined to the family feud. Eubank Jr himself kicked off the event by levelling an accusation against Conor Benn's promotional team, Matchroom Boxing. He claimed that Matchroom had prevented his head of security from entering the press conference.
Matchroom's chairman, Eddie Hearn, was quick to deny the allegation, holding up a sign with the word "bull****" clearly written on it for all to see. This followed another piece of pre-fight theatre orchestrated by Hearn, who played "Silent Night" over loudspeakers while holding up cue cards. This was a clear dig at Eubank Jr's tendency to speak over him during the press conferences leading up to their first bout.
With the stage now set, all eyes turn to the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Saturday, where the sons will look to settle their score, all while the legacy of their fathers' historic rivalry looms large over the entire spectacle.
