Former boxing champion Nigel Benn has reignited his legendary feud with the Eubank family, unleashing a furious verbal attack on Chris Eubank Sr just moments after his son Conor secured a decisive victory over Chris Eubank Jr.
The Victory That Settled a Generational Score
Conor Benn delivered a masterclass performance against Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, earning a unanimous decision victory that provided long-awaited redemption for the Benn family. This triumph marked the first win for the Benns in their 35-year rivalry with the Eubanks, stretching back to when Nigel Benn fought Chris Eubank Sr in the 1990s.
The history between these boxing dynasties runs deep. Eubank Sr won their first encounter in 1990, while former two-weight world champion Benn was left furious after their controversial draw at Old Trafford three years later. The feud extended to the next generation when Conor lost to Eubank Jr in an April thriller, but the 29-year-old from Ilford finally delivered family revenge in what became a surprisingly one-sided contest.
The Unprompted Press Conference Confrontation
The simmering tension between the veteran fighters boiled over during Thursday's press conference when an unexpected face-off occurred between the two boxing legends. Benn, a 48-fight veteran, explained what triggered his anger in a remarkable two-minute-and-31-second rant after the match.
"At the press conference... I'm a say it now, we had a face-off," Benn revealed unprompted. "He is dancing because he loves the limelight. He doesn't care about his son, he just loves the limelight."
Benn described attempting to shake hands with his old rival, only to be rebuffed. "He came right next to me and I thought 'let me just shake your hand', so I pulled him in for a hug and he put his hand up to me. And I actually felt like I wanted to... so when he tried to shake my hand tonight, I thought 'I ain't playing your games, mate'."
A Scathing Assessment of Character
Benn didn't hold back in his criticism of Eubank Sr's personality and behaviour, labelling him a "prat" and "idiot". He particularly took issue with Eubank's tendency to quote scripture while displaying what Benn perceived as hypocrisy.
"He tries to quote scripture and all that, he don't even know what he is talking about," Benn continued. "I just can't get him. When you have them two around you, everything is just so negative."
The veteran boxer also criticised the Eubanks for their disrespectful attitude toward promoters, contrasting it with the respect he and his contemporaries showed figures like Frank Warren and Mickey Duff during their careers.
Benn saved particular scorn for what he saw as constant complaining from the Eubank camp about weight issues, noting the irony that Eubank Jr had been a middleweight for years and held the IBO championship, yet suddenly had problems when facing a welterweight.
"Always bloody moaning. Always," Benn concluded. "I tell you what, I'm sick to death of them to tell the truth and I am glad it's over now. I am glad it's over now and we won't have to hear about them anymore."
The emotional outburst suggests that despite Conor's victory settling the score in the ring, the bitter personal rivalry between the families remains as intense as ever, potentially setting the stage for future confrontations between these British boxing dynasties.
