Conor Benn has revealed what he told bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr’s father, Chris Eubank Snr, when he made a shock appearance at his son’s clash on Saturday night.
Chris Eubank Sr was spotted walking side-by-side with his son ahead of his showdown against Benn despite their public family feud. They entered the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium together arm-in-arm on in a shocking sign that they have finally buried the hatchet.
Former world champion Eubank Sr had branded his son ‘disgusting’ for accepting the fight with Benn but he was ringside after the surprise U-turn. He embraced his son in the ring after he was declared the victor, and tied his robe before the bout.
Only last week, Eubank Sr told SecondsOut that he would be skipping the bout, saying: ‘I will not be an accomplice to their stupidity, their circus.’
Eubank Sr was adamant he would not return to Jr’s corner after he smashed an egg on Benn’s face and was forced to take on a significant weight cut.
But, in a shock turn of events, he was, and embraced both Conor and Nigel Benn before and after the bout. Conor has now shared what he told his father’s former rival.
Conor Benn (left) has revealed what he told Chris Eubank Snr (right) on Saturday night
Chris Eubank Jr reunited with his dad in shocking scenes ahead of his showdown against Benn
Eubank Sr placed an arm around his son’s shoulders after they climbed out of the same car
‘I looked at Chris Eubank Snr,’ he began. ‘I grabbed him by the neck and I said, “Mate, I’m so happy you’re here. I’m so happy you turned up”.
‘You know, because outside of everything else, outside all of the noise and the promotion and the fight, your relationship with your dad never goes. That’s always there. That’s long standing. That’s real without boxing.
‘What’s boxing? You know, what is it? Because I’d pick the relationship with my dad over boxing any day of the week. So to see those two, if this has brought them together, cool – that’s worth its weight in gold.’
The crowd in north London was reduced to a frenzy after a black car pulled up and Eubank Sr stepped out, quickly followed by his son.
Spectators screamed and the Benns – Conor and his father, Nigel – watching on via a monitor backstage – took in the moment the Eubanks announced their sensational reunion on the world stage.
Eubank Jr even shadow boxed with his dad in emotional pre-fight scenes, suggesting they have set their grievances aside on the night of his life.
Until now, Eubank Sr had not been in his son’s corner since 2019 after he chose to go his own way, a decision that greatly disappointed the boxing great.
Eubank Jr also revealed the tragic death of his brother Sebastian, aged just 29 in 2021, ‘destroyed a large part’ of his relationship with his father.
Eubank Jr shadow boxed with his dad in his dressing room ahead of the fight on Saturday
Benn revealed he was happy his rival’s father appeared because a father-son relationship is ‘worth its weight in gold’
Nigel, though, who enjoyed a rivalry with Eubank Snr in the 1990s – suffering defeat before a controversial draw three years later – also revealed his happiness that Eubank snr was present.
‘I wanted him here,’ he said. ‘It’s a big family affair.’
Asked if his presence had then had an impact on his son, he said: ‘Not at all. It’s not based on Chris. I don’t know what Chris is going to turn up tonight.’
Eubank Snr himself told Mail Sport at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: ‘I back my son no matter what. The egg thing he did? Very disappointed, but I forgave him instantly. And now, he always has to understand you always have to preach that this is not the way we behave as standardbearers, as noblemen.
‘The better way for me to explain it is as follows. You have your super conscious mind, which is your spiritual mind, and you have your surface mind, which is your ego mind.’