Chris Eubank Jr Opens Up Ahead of Conor Benn Clash: “If I Come Across As Cold, That’s Just What Boxing Made Me”
On a dreary Tuesday afternoon in South London, the atmosphere inside Churchill’s Boxing Gym is thick with anticipation. Chris Eubank Jr’s arrival is imminent—or so his team says. One coach comments wryly, “Chris should be here for 5pm… that could mean anything,” joking about his notorious timekeeping.
While waiting, attention drifts to Johanna Wonyou, a female junior-featherweight contender sharpening her tools with gym owner Samm Mullins. Across the room, Eubank Jr’s head trainer Jonathan Banks sets up a chair and patiently watches the door. Moments later, movement outside signals the arrival of a blacked-out Tesla Model X. Out steps Eubank Jr, trailed by a documentary crew—content that may end up on “Amazon Prime or something,” according to the cameraman.
As he prepares for a highly anticipated showdown with Conor Benn on April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Eubank Jr exudes composure. The event, promoted by The Ring, Matchroom Boxing, Boxxer, and SNK Games (creators of FATAL Fury: City of the Wolves), marks a pivotal moment in Eubank’s career.
Seated on a sunken sofa at the back of the gym, Eubank reflects on a tumultuous five-year period that has shaped his outlook. His brother Sebastian’s tragic death in 2021, the cancellation of the original Benn fight in 2022, and his first career knockout loss to Liam Smith in 2023 are defining points in his journey.
“Life’s been what life really is,” he tells The Ring. “Trials, tribulations, ups, downs… I’ve become good at staying focused, no matter what hits me.”
He reflects on how the sport has molded his emotional state. “I don’t want to say I’m cold, but boxing has made me this way. I’ve seen and experienced too much, both in the ring and outside of it.”
Despite a tough exterior, Eubank Jr admits that this bout, more than most, carries emotional weight. “It’s family legacy, it’s cheating allegations, it’s personal. I don’t know how all that will play into my performance, but the emotion is there.”
The build-up has been rife with drama. Their February 25 press conference ended with Eubank smashing an egg into Benn’s face—a cheeky jab at the WBC’s claim that Benn’s failed VADA tests were a result of egg overconsumption. The egg-gate incident landed headlines nationwide, rekindling a family rivalry that began in the 1990s with their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn.
Animosity runs both ways. Benn views Eubank Jr as arrogant and insufferable. While Eubank refuses to use the word “hate,” he doesn’t hide his contempt either: “He’s someone I’m going to squeeze out of the sport.” Though cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP), Eubank Jr remains skeptical of Benn’s integrity.
But beyond the pre-fight theatrics lies a man grappling with the cost of his journey. The pressure of walking in his father’s footsteps and the haunting memory of opponent Nick Blackwell suffering a brain injury in 2016 are heavy burdens.
“You don’t survive in this sport unless you love it,” he says. Despite the pain, despite the wealth—money he admits may last beyond his need—he believes his passion remains authentic. “You don’t stay in boxing just for money. Not in this business.”
Still, the situation with Benn clearly unsettles him. “He took PEDs preparing to fight me. I won’t say I hate him, but he’s a lowlife in my eyes. He doesn’t deserve this opportunity.”
Interestingly, Eubank Jr embraces his role as a villain. “The booing has become a comfort, as sick as that might sound.”
Real peace for Eubank Jr lies outside the ring. He splits his time between Las Vegas and Dubai, with the latter offering a special solace—it’s where his late brother Sebastian’s son, Raheem, lives.
“Raheem gives my life a deeper meaning,” he says. “I never imagined myself as a father. But with him, nothing makes me happier. I take him everywhere I can. He’s my son in my heart.”
This weekend’s opponent, Benn, is moving up from his natural welterweight (147 lbs) to fight Eubank at middleweight, with no prior world-level experience. While some believe Benn’s youth and hunger give him the edge, Eubank Jr is rightfully confident in his own pedigree.
“He’s unproven,” Eubank says. “That can make it harder. He doesn’t know how to lose… but neither do I.”
While Chris Eubank Sr. won’t be ringside—publicly disapproving of the fight—his influence looms. In a cryptic nod to his father’s unique flair, Eubank Jr ends with five enigmatic words:
“The procedure will be parliamentary.”
— V.2 Editorial Team
