Chris Eubank Sr has emphatically ruled out his attendance at his son’s upcoming clash with Conor Benn.
While Nigel Benn has been heavily involved in his son’s camp for the grudge match, Eubank Sr has distanced himself from what he describes as a ‘circus’.
Seconds OutEubank Sr won’t be in his son’s corner for the Benn fight[/caption]
The British boxing legend acted as a mentor and trainer for Chris Eubank Jr during the early portions of his professional career.
However, Eubank Jr cut ties with his father in order to gain greater independence.
This led to a breakdown in their relationship, which was only made worse by the tragic death of Eubank Sr’s son Sebastian and the grief that went along with it.
The pair haven’t been on talking terms for a considerable stretch and only recently spoke to each other for the first time in two years at Harlem Eubank’s fight with Tyrone McKenna in Brighton last month.
There has been significant speculation as to whether Eubank Sr will attend the domestic dust-up, while Eubank Jr has urged his dad to join him in his corner on fight night.
However, Eubank Sr has since dashed his son’s hopes in a scathing interview with Seconds Out on Wednesday.
“I will not be an accomplice to their stupidity, their circus,” he barked.
Eubank Sr is particularly aggrieved with the discrepancy in weight between the two combatants.
Benn, who has competed at welterweight (147lbs) for the majority of his career, will move up to Eubank Jr’s natural home of middleweight (160lbs) to face his fierce rival on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There is a 10lbs rehydration clause inserted into their contracts to level the playing field, but Eubank Sr still adamantly believes the bout is ‘against the rules’.
“It’s against the rules what is happening, 147lbs fighting 160lbs is against the rules,” Eubank Sr continued.
“When Kell Brook was made to fight GGG [Gennady Golovkin] it’s against the rules.
“That boy [Brook] had his eye socket smashed. For promoters, it is just a game, but to the warriors, it is a way of life.
“We have to call them what they are, they are trash, they are trashing us. We are not trash, we are the standard bearers…
“If you are not clever and you are not noble, this [boxing] will kill you, this vocation, what they call sport.
“If you don’t play it right already, Conor, you don’t have a career to enjoy.”
Eubank Sr is also ‘disgusted’ with the conduct of both fighters in the build-up, particularly that of his son, who struck Benn with an egg at their launch press conference in February.
“Junior, you are smashing an egg against this guy’s face,” Eubank Sr added.
“I taught you that? I didn’t teach you that?
“Who taught you that? Did Karron [Eubank Jr’s mum] teach you that? Who taught you that?
‘”That is disgraceful. That is disgraceful. I’m going to be in your corner?
“I would never have been in your corner; that is a disgrace. You are smashing an egg in someone’s face, and you are trying to justify it.
“There is no justification for it. There is nothing noble about that.”
