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Chris Eubank Sr fears his son Jr is putting life at risk by controversially fighting Conor Benn
CHRIS tells The Sun: “I lost Sebastian. What do I say about losing another one? Nothing, I just pray.”
CHRIS Eubank says he fears his son Chris Jr is putting his life in danger by fighting Conor Benn.
Conor and Chris Jr confirmed this week that they would square up in a huge money fight in London in April.
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Speaking before the contracts were signed, Chris, 58, admitted he never believed the fight would happen and said of their planned 2022 bout: “My son, if he had taken that fight where they tried to board him down to 157, would have lost his life.”
Chris, whose son Sebastian died after having a heart attack aged 29 in 2023, continued: “I lost Sebastian.
“What do I say about losing another one? Nothing, I just pray.”
Chris Jr, 35, and Conor, 28, will face one another in a bout in April – with Conor having to come up two weight classes to make the bout happen.
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Chris Jr posted a picture online of Conor signing his contract and said: “Conor Benn just signed his own death sentence.”
The pair were due to fight in 2022 – 29 years after their fathers Chris and Nigel had fought for a second time.
The contest was called off however after Conor failed a voluntary drugs test – with his suspension lifted in November.
When asked his opinion on promoters appearing to put money over safety, Chris said: “They take no interest in the lives of the fighter, it is irresponsible.
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“They are going to end up landing themselves in a lawsuit.
“The safety of boxers is number one.”
Recalling the death of American boxer Paul Bamba in December, who died aged 35 just six days after winning the WBA Gold Cruiserweight title by defeating Rogelio Medina, Chris continued: “Paul said he gave himself brain damage by losing too much weight.
“He lost 22lbs in a matter of days.
“What the promoters are doing now is looking at the names and looking at the money.
“So, the names of the fathers Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, they are looking at the names that draw an audience to a stadium or an arena.
“This is trampling the rules. They are running amok.
“It has become a world of ‘money first’. Like with the YouTube fighters, it’s the money they think about.
“And for the boxers, when they are headstrong, they are not thinking about safety.
“I know what it is like to get in there and to have lost all that weight.
“I know what it feels like when you are getting a hammering. It is dangerous.
“I know what it is like in training, when you are dehydrated.”
Chris spoke to The Sun to celebrate his tour, which has seen him going around the UK speaking to young people and community groups.
The app was co-created by Chris and exists to bring local people together.
The tour has so far seen Chris visiting the Holford Drive Community Sports Hub in Perry Barr, the ATOS Jiu Jitsu UK in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield and Cannock Boxing Club.
Chris said: “It binds communities together.
“We have to unify in whatever community we are in and that is what Trust Huddle is all about, bringing everyone together.
“All these principles I speak to young people about, their conduct, their behaviour, being a gentleman or being a young lady.
“I tell them manners work, you will get far, a lot further than those who use bad language.
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“My parents gave me the blueprint and that blueprint is based on the principles of treating others as you would want them to treat you.
“Community is unity and unity is victory. You can be a victor.”
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