HOSTILE TAKEOVER Eubank Jr tells dad ‘I’m the boss!’
CHRIS Eubank Jr has told his dad he’s in charge of his career now as he wants total control over every step he takes to ensure he’s got enough tales for a book.
The pair’s relationship has changed over the last three years, with Eubank Sr taking a back step long before their disagreement over taking this weekend’s clash with Conor Benn at a catchweight.
Eubank Jr (33) has not had his father in his corner since he employed Roy Jones Jr as a trainer just before the pandemic hit.
Although with Jones not involved in this, he wanted his dad to play a role in the build-up to the O2 clash with Benn as the sons of two of British boxing’s most iconic figures lock horns.
Eubank Sr, who was previously in his corner earlier in his career and acted as manager, has stayed away from the camp.
But Eubank Jr said:“At the beginning of my career he was seen as the boss in my career. I didn’t mind that. I just wanted to fight, I didn’t want to be the boss.
“Now I want to be a part of the decision making. I told him I will write a book one day, so I have to go through these experiences and I can’t just leave it all up to him because then I have nothing to write about.
Mindset
“I’m the boss. I am the boss now. I texted him about a month ago. Just so there’s no doubt moving forward on my mindset. That’s not to say I don’t want him around or need his advice because I absolutely do.”
Eubank Jr insists his father understands despite his pleas for this weekend’s clash to be called off over fears he could lose another son following the death of Sebastian Eubank last year.
He added: “You haven’t seen him around as much because he understands I want to take more control.
“Then we have the situation that he was telling me not to take the fight and when I said I wanted to take the fight he was unhappy with that.
“He was saying all these things to try to change my mind. I had to just say it, ‘I am the boss’.
“This is what I want to do and I want your help but this fight is not going to happen.”
Meanwhile, Conor Benn believes he has his dad’s “gladiator blood” coursing through his veins.
Benn has stopped 14 of his opponents in his perfect 21-0 pro record and says his fighting qualities come from his father Nigel.
Nigel was known as the Dark Destroyer because of the damage the former two-weight world champion wreaked and he had 35 knock-outs from his 42 wins.
He has teamed up with his son for Saturday’s 157lbs-catchweight clash with Eubank Jr at London’s O2 and Conor says he owes him everything.
“My dad for me is a reminder of who I am, the blood I have running through my veins,” he said.
Ferocity
“The way I fight is with ferocity, intensity, spitefulness, that all comes from inside me.
“That’s the gladiator blood I have in me.”
Conor’s closeness to his dad for this fight is in contrast to Eubank and his eccentric father rejected his offer to train him and his kept well away.
The Benns will watch Nigel’s two fights against Chris Eubank Senior in the 1990s this week and Conor still maintains his dad was robbed in the rematch, which was scored a draw. Part of his motivation in fighting Eubank is to put the record straight for his family but mostly he just wants to win to keep progressing towards a welterweight world-title shot.
“It’s a bit of everything really,” said Conor, who is stepping up nearly two divisions to face Eubank.“It would be nice to get that win. Everyone knows my dad won the last fight, but was never awarded the decision.
Zone
“I’ll probably watch the fights when I really start tapping into that zone.”
Conor’s mum Caroline and his twin sister India have flown over from their family home in Sydney for the fight and he will see them for the first time since before the Covid pandemic.
He will introduce them to his 21-month-old son Eli in what is sure to be an emotional moment and they will stay in his house while he moves out to focus on the fight.