Chris Eubank Jr and Sr’s relationship is just a ‘gimmick’, insists Irish champion JJ McDonagh

IRISH super-middleweight champion JJ McDonagh has slammed Chris Eubank Jr and Sr - labelling their relationship a "gimmick".

McDonagh, 32, fights Eubank Jr in a 10-round bout on the George Groves vs Callum Smith World Boxing Super Series undercard in Saudi Arabia.

And the Mullingar fighter has laid into the pair ahead of the biggest fight of his career on September 28.

He told SunSport: “Their relationship is a gimmick - that's all it is.

“One minute they don’t seem to like each other and then they’re standing next to one another like they're united together.

"I can’t take them seriously - it's all an act."

McDonagh, who sensationally ended Jake Ball's unbeaten record with a brutal first-round knockout back in 2016, believes Eubank Sr is only hanging around Jr to remain relevant.

And he says the former world champion should take a leaf out of Nigel Benn's book when it comes to mentoring his son - who lost to George Groves last time out.

He added: "Jr is moody all the time when he's around his father.

“Any opportunity Sr has to be in the ring he’s there - without fail.

“It's all about him trying to stay in the limelight."

He continued: “Rewind back 10 years ago and the father didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

“One person is living off the other one’s name and vice versa.

“You look at Conor Benn and the relationship he has with his father (Nigel).

“He’s there to celebrate his son’s achievements and at the same time he takes a back seat and let's him get on with it.

“You can’t get away from your father’s legacy and nor should you.

“But to completely live off it and then for your father to completely overshadow it - I think it’s a disgrace."