At first, it was the weight disparity that led to Eubank Sr.’s disapproval of the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn matchup originally set for October 2022. But then it was ‘an egg’ that became part of the controversy. Mike Tyson first questioned the fight’s appeal by saying, “I don’t know if America would be interested because I don’t think they’re internationally known.”  But thanks to that viral egg saga, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone unfamiliar with the fight happening on April 26th. Still, one big thing remains unchanged. Chris Eubank Jr. will go into this one without his father in his corner. Unlike Nigel Benn, who recently called for the Eubank family to mend fences, Eubank Sr. is standing firm. His words? “I’m gonna stand in your corner? You must be mad! I would never be in your corner, you are a disgrace.”

That decision has clearly left a scar. The last time father and son were seen together ringside was way back in 2019, and things have only gotten colder since. Even though Eubank Sr. still considers the upcoming fight “illegal,” it’s still going ahead. And not just in front of a sold-out crowd of 62,000 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—but under the watchful eyes of fans around the globe. The sole reason? The fight’s the continuation of a rivalry their fathers ignited in the ‘90s. And as much as Chris Eubank Jr. might try to downplay the absence of his dad, people are talking. That includes promoter Eddie Hearn.

Chris Eubank Jr. criticised for coaching carousel and lack of focus

Earlier today, after the Grand Arrivals, Eddie Hearn had a conversation with Umar from BoxNation. When asked about skill and dedication of Chris Eubank Jr that could win him the Saturday fight night, Eddie Hearn didn’t hold back. In classic Eddie fashion, he cut right to the point—saying dedication and skill aren’t what’s going to help Eubank win this fight. “Dedication is definitely out of the window. And skill left three years ago,” the Matchroom head honcho stated.

He further questioned whether the skill was ever really there to begin with. “If you think that Chris Eubank Jr is as dedicated as Conor Benn, you’re dreaming,” he stated boldly. Why? Because, “Conor Benn trains much harder than Chris Eubank Jr,” he confidently revealed.

Moreover, Eddie Hearn pointed out that Eubank has bounced between a ridiculous number of trainers, saying, “He’s had about thirty-six trainers.” Now, that seems like an exaggeration. Even though Chris Eubank Jr. has had multiple coaches before, now, it’s coach Johnathon Banks in his training camp and nobody else. Anyway, Hearn thinks there’s no consistency or real structure in Eubank Jr.’s training camps.

He also called out the quality of his sparring partners, implying they’re not on the same level as what Conor Benn works with. Hearn even believed that, “He [Chris Eubank Jr.] doesn’t train in the same way as Conor Benn.”  And then he decided to finally throw a hammer at the 34-3, 25 KO boxer saying: “Skill is definitely not what is winning him this fight.”

Translation? Hearn doesn’t think Chris Eubank Jr. is relying on boxing IQ or technique—maybe just grit, experience, or athleticism—but not refined skill. It’s a pretty blunt assessment, especially from someone who’s promoted both fighters at different times. Hold on, that’s not all from the 45-year-old, there’s more.

Chris Eubank Jr. still has a lot to lose 

Earlier today, iFL TV’s Joe Pugh caught up with Eddie Hearn at the same event. And Hearn didn’t pull any punches when it came to addressing Chris Eubank Sr.’s concerns about the weight difference. According to Hearn, yes, Conor Benn is a solid, “big welterweight,” but on fight night, Chris Eubank Jr. will still be the naturally bigger man. How big though?

“He’ll be between 10 pounds and a stone heavier than Benn,” Hearn said, adding, “It is what it is—we knew what we signed up for.” But that doesn’t mean his fighter Conor Benn is without any advantages. Because if you listen to Eddie Hearn, the 35-year-old has much to lose in comparison to the younger and hungry Benn Jr.

As the interview continued, Hearn flipped the script a bit and pushed back on the idea that Eubank Jr. is somehow the victim here. “But let’s stop the narrative. Oh, Jr. has got to make weight, yeah, his fu— weight,” he said. Meanwhile, Conor Benn is calm, composed, and cruising through fight week. And all that The Destroyer needs to do is?

“Conor Benn will be going home tonight. Doing a little bit of mobility work. Maybe a little light run, nice bit of food, wake up in the morning feeling 110%,” Hearn added. And Eubank Jr. on the flip side? Hearn pointed out that he’s clearly feeling the strain—especially with that last-minute weight cut and the 10-pound rehydration cap. “He’s got a lot of weight to come off. See that tonight even with the skinny jeans,” Hearn joked. The bottom line? Hearn is backing Benn with confidence while hinting that the real pressure is all on Chris Eubank Jr.

So with all that in mind, do you think the absence of Chris Eubank Sr. in his son’s corner could take a toll on Eubank Jr.’s mental game—and potentially shift the course of history? Or, despite the fractured relationship, do you believe Chris Eubank Jr. still has what it takes to follow in his father’s footsteps and carve out a legacy of his own?