Chris Eubank Jr has said he “saved the family honour” by defeating arch-rival Conor Benn in front of his father, Chris Eubank Sr, with whom he has previously had a falling out, at the Tottenham Hotspur Arena.
In a fight steeped in family history and coming thirty years after their fathers' bitter rivalry first took hold of British boxing, Eubank Jr beat Benn by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112.
Hours earlier, the crowd was thrilled when Eubank Sr. made a surprise appearance in the ring and excitedly greeted his son. The pair had apparently been apart for a long time, with Eubank Sr. previously criticising the fight.
“It was absolutely special,” Eubank Jr said of the significance of his father's presence, who previously called him a “disgrace” for egging Benn in February.
“He needed to be here. All this because he did – and we did it again. I'm glad this man is with me.
“I have kept the family name as promised, so it moves forward and upward.”
He added: “The fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago brings out a different soul and spirit – and that's what we both demonstrated tonight.”
The 35-year-old was not present at the post-fight press conference as he was taken to hospital for tests, but before leaving he paid tribute to Benn's unexpected resilience in the ring.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
