Boxer Opens Up on Private Life Ahead of Crucial Rematch
British boxer Chris Eubank Jr has revealed he is expecting twin boys while explaining his firm stance on keeping his personal life private. The 36-year-old middleweight made the announcement ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Saturday.
Eubank Jr spoke to The Independent and other publications about his impending fatherhood, acknowledging the news might surprise boxing fans. The fighter emphasised his long-standing philosophy that private matters should remain exactly that - private.
'They Cannot Ruin What They Don't Know'
"My private life should be private, that's how I have always seen it," Eubank Jr stated on Tuesday. "What people don't know and what people don't see, they cannot target, they cannot ruin, they cannot try to interfere with."
He questioned the benefits of exposing personal relationships to public scrutiny, pointing to the frequent collapse of high-profile relationships under media pressure. Eubank Jr cited his parents' very public divorce as a formative experience that shaped his current outlook.
"I saw that from very early on, I experienced it with my mother and father," he recalled. "Their split was very public, and it was hard to watch, and it was embarrassing. Everybody knew that my parents were getting divorced, and I knew from that age that, whatever relationship I got into, I wasn't going to make it public. It's unnecessary."
The boxer even referenced past speculation about his sexuality, laughing about the time former opponent Liam Smith called him gay. "It's not like I am hiding [my personal life], I just chose not to throw it out there," Eubank Jr clarified.
Fatherhood and Fighting Future
Despite the life-changing news, Eubank Jr dismissed suggestions that fatherhood might bring forward the end of his boxing career. The April victory over Benn at the same venue marked another successful chapter in his professional journey.
"I don't think so, I don't think having children has any effect on my career," he told The Independent. "If anything, they will make me fight harder, because I know now that I have two extra mouths to feed."
He acknowledged boxing's inherent dangers but remains committed to the sport. "Boxing is a dangerous sport, and you want to be there for your kids as they grow. These types of fights that I am in, they take a bit out of you - they take a little bit of your life out of you. It's something to think about, but as of right now, I am in love with my life as a fighter, and I don't see it coming to an end any time soon."
The news of his impending fatherhood was captured in a BBC documentary titled The Eubanks: Like Father, Like Son, which shows Eubank Jr revealing to his father that he will soon become a grandfather. He described telling his father during his September birthday celebrations as "the perfect time" to share the news.
"He didn't know," Eubank Jr said of the moment. "The cameras were there, I wanted it to be captured, so it was a beautiful moment that we can relive for the rest of our lives. The BBC has their schedule, so it had to come out. I found out a few months ago."
Family Legacy and Future Generations
Eubank Jr also reflected on how his relationship with his own famous father has evolved, particularly following the birth of his nephew Raheem - son of his late brother Sebastian. This experience helped him understand his father's protective instincts towards him as a boxer.
When asked if he would encourage his sons to box, Eubank Jr was clear about his approach. "Will I push [my sons] into boxing? No. Would I want them to be boxers? I would not say that," he stated. "[But] I would not stop, forbid or block them, like my father did for me."
He expressed concern about parents pushing children into dangerous sports without genuine passion. "You have some parents who push their kids into the sport - into all sports - but kids who get pushed into boxing... it is dangerous, because if a kid does not have his heart and mind 100 per cent in it, they can get hurt."
Eubank Jr looks forward to his children discovering his boxing legacy naturally. "I am sure they will sit down and catch [my rivalry with Conor Benn] on YouTube, because everything is documented now, and that is a wonderful thing. I am excited for them to grow and to learn what their father did."
The improved relationship with his father comes at an important time. "It's a massive thing to have him back in my life, especially now, because he is their grandfather and that's a very important relationship," Eubank Jr said. "I hate to think that two years ago - when we hadn't spoken for a couple of years - if I had a kid then, what would I do? Now I know he is accessible to me, it's a great feeling."
This weekend's rematch continues a family rivalry that began in the 1990s when Eubank Sr fought Nigel Benn twice - stopping him in 1990 and fighting to a draw in 1993. Eubank Jr's victory over Conor Benn seven months ago ruined his opponent's previously unbeaten record, adding another chapter to this enduring boxing saga.
