A massive all-British boxing match is in the making, a fight between two generational rivals and the excitement is through the roof. 28-year-old Conor Benn is set to square off against Chris Eubank Jr. on 26th April at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The pair kicked off their much-anticipated fight last month in a press conference, which had the fans buzzing. And now, they are back in the headlines as Benn ropes in Eubank Jr.’s legendary father into the mix.
You see, Junior had tried to distance himself from his father, Chris Eubank Sr., years ago, asking the legendary boxer to stop interfering with his career. Not to mention, Senior was always against reigniting the rivalry between the Benns and Eubanks, having fought Conor Benn’s father, Nigel Benn, twice during their prime. So, in the build-up of the Benn-Eubank Jr. fight, Eubank Jr.’s father has been absent from his corner.
This hasn’t gone unnoticed by ‘The Destroyer’ Benn, who tried to motivate Eubank Jr. to mend his relationship with his father before their fight next month. While appearing in an interview with Piers Morgan recently, the pair was trading verbal jabs as usual, but then the conversation took a turn. The animosity between the boxers was gone, as emotions and genuine concern took over.
“It’s sad to see that the relationship ain’t working on their end,” Benn said during the interview. “Genuinely, and I mean that.” Benn tried his best to emphasize that he was not trying to be “funny.” The 28-year-old explained “It would be great to see you and your dad in your corner. I mean that. No sarcasm.”
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Javier Garcia/BPI/Shutterstock 8268931al Chris Eubank sr on the corner as Chris Eubank Junior challenges Reinold Quinlan for the IBO world super-middleweight title at Olympia,, London on 4th February 2017 Boxing – Quinlan v Eubank Jr IBO World Super-Middleweight Title – Renold Quinlan v Chris Eubank Jr Olympia, London, United Kingdom – 04 Feb 2017 Boxing – Quinlan v Eubank Jr IBO World Super-Middleweight Title – Renold Quinlan v Chris Eubank Jr Olympia, London, United Kingdom – 04 Feb 2017 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTXHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROMxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xJavierxGarcia/BPI/Shutterstockx 8268931al
However, given the build-up of the fight, where both parties have hurled insults at each other, Eubank Jr. was having a tough time believing Benn’s concern. “It’s hard to believe,” Eubank Jr. said as he reacted. “I’ve got to be careful. I don’t want you drawing me into something here.” This must have been a shock for everyone because Eubank Jr. had smashed an egg on Benn’s face during the launch press conference.
Regardless, Benn insisted that he was “being sincere,” just for the 35-year-old to look at Benn’s comments “with a grain of salt. I can’t help it.” Benn also had a theory of why Senior was not in his son’s corner, stating, “At the present moment, he thinks I knock you out… That’s what your dad believes it’s out there…” Despite that, Benn feels their fight is so big because of their fathers and their rivalry in the past.
“They laid the foundation,” Benn continued. “We are like our dads. We are the double and carbon copy of our dads. It’d be great to see your dad in your corner. And you mend that relationship. Whatever is coming in between you guys, it’d be great to see.” Whether Senior and Junior can set aside their issues for the Benn fight is yet to be seen, but it would definitely make for a historic moment in boxing.
Regardless, coming back to the egg thing, Eubank Jr. is now facing the consequences of his actions.
Chris Eubank Jr. slapped with a £100,000 fine after the egg incident with Conor Benn
Chris Eubank Jr. is fined £100,000 by the BBBofC after the egg slap incident during their press conference in Manchester. The board confirmed in a statement, “Following a hearing before the stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control, Chris Eubank Jr was found to be in breach of regulation 25 (misconduct)… As such, the stewards of the board fined Chris Eubank Jr the sum of £100,000.”
Eubank’s promoter, Ben Shalom, reacted strongly, telling Sky Sports the punishment was “extremely over the top and ridiculously out of all proportion,” adding that Eubank had “no choice but to appeal.” However, Eubank Jr. took to social media the next day and simply wrote, “Worth every penny.” He later defended his actions, stating, “Did I cross the line? During this whole process I think many lines have been crossed… I think he deserved the embarrassment… if I had an opportunity to do it again then I would.”
The incident was a direct jab at Benn’s prior failed drug tests, with Eubank adding, “Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg.”
It appears Conor Benn really wants to keep his father’s legacy alive in the fight against rival Chris Eubank Jr. However, only time will tell whether Eubank Sr. would agree to be in his son’s corner for the fight despite being against it. What do you think is the solution?
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