Interview
Chris Eubank Jr: I Was Paid $***** For The Fight! The Night Before, Dad Finally Opened Up!
- Chris Eubank Jr. describes his post-fight hospitalization as a moment of severe dehydration, pain, and reflection, where he heard a doctor state that another patient in the adjacent ward required immediate surgery or they would die, putting his own injuries into perspective.
- Eubank rates his performance as technically sound for the first seven rounds, but states that once the cut opened, technicality was discarded in favor of a "war" mentality driven by physical restrictions and dehydration.
- Eubank reveals he expected to finish Conor Benn early but was shocked by Benn's speed, strength, and mental willingness to endure a 12-round battle he had not prepared for.
- The fight landed approximately 1,500 punches by Eubank and Benn combined, surpassing the total punches landed across three recent high-profile fights involving Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia, which totaled 1,400 punches.
- Eubank confirms he received an eight-figure payment for the fight, significantly higher than his usual seven-figure purse, but declined to name the specific amount.
- A $1 million fine was levied against Eubank because he weighed in 0.5 pounds over the middleweight limit, though he adhered to the rehydration restriction of only gaining 10 pounds overnight.
- Eubank details a specific rehydration clause in the contract that limited his weight gain from 160 lbs (weigh-in) to 170 lbs (day-of-fight weigh-in) to prevent him from recovering full hydration levels before the bout.
- Eubank admits he accepted the rehydration restriction and the financial penalty because he was confident in his ability to beat Benn and wanted to secure a higher purse, noting he could have negotiated for more but felt the offer was sufficient given the "Saudi" context.
- Eubank refused to shake Conor Benn's hand post-fight because Benn has never publicly admitted to or taken full accountability for his two failed drug tests in 2022, which Eubank views as "attempted murder."
- Eubank defended his decision to slap Conor Benn with an egg at a press conference, calling it a necessary symbolic act to ensure Benn "will never be able to forget what he did" and that the memory stays with him for the rest of his life.
- Eubank states a rematch is contractually agreed upon, with Taki (promoter) having already booked an arena for September, and he expresses a strong desire to fight again if the fans want it.
- Eubank identifies his father, Chris Eubank Sr., as his primary motivation for fighting through the pain, noting he had to prove he was capable of great things after years of estrangement.
- The relationship between Chris Eubank Jr. and his father strained for years after Eubank Jr. sent a letter declaring he was no longer allowing his father to manage his career or make decisions, a move Eubank Sr. could not accept as he had been "the boss" his entire life.
- The estrangement was further complicated by the death of Eubank Jr.'s brother, Sebastian, which led Eubank Sr. to struggle with grief through marijuana use, widening the gap until the reconciliation preceding the fight.
- Eubank describes his father's arrival at his hotel the night before the fight as a pivotal moment, where his father expressed a desire to be there solely to support him as a father, with no request for money.
- Eubank's father requested a specific, obscure song be played during the walkout to replace the standard "Simply the Best," a request Eubank initially resisted but ultimately honored, which he believes changed the emotional energy of the event.
- Eubank mentions that his brother Sebastian drowned in Dubai due to a heart attack while swimming, an event that shifted his perspective on life, prompting him to be more grateful and responsible with his time.
- Eubank reveals he has a nephew, Rahim, whose existence has given him a new definition of happiness, stating he now wants a biological son of his own to share this love.
- Eubank expresses a strong desire to fight Billy Joe Saunders again, citing Saunders as a drug cheat and a "scummy human being," and believes he can beat him to settle a contentious past decision.
- Eubank outlines his ideal next three fights as a rematch with Conor Benn, a bout against Canelo Alvarez, and a return to fight Billy Joe Saunders.
- Eubank confirms he currently has no trust in Matchroom Boxing or its principals, Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith (his sister's husband), viewing them as dangerous arch-rivals to his own promoter, Boxer, and noting they were hoping he would lose the fight.
- Eubank reflects on a childhood video where his father argued against him pursuing boxing, fearing the violence and disfigurement, and states he was motivated to prove his father wrong by choosing the path of pain.
- Eubank admits that he has no physical reserves left in the 12th round of the fight, describing his mindset as "spiritual" and driven by a refusal to go through life knowing he didn't give his all.
- Eubank notes that his face was severely swollen post-fight due to dehydration rather than punches, to the point where he experienced a medical emergency where his bladder would not release fluid despite extreme need.
- Eubank mentions that he walked to the ring with an orchestra playing, a last-minute addition that replaced a planned rap artist, and emphasizes that the "family reunion" aspect of the walkout was unscripted and genuine.
- Eubank chooses Michael Jackson's Thriller as the one album he would listen to for the rest of his life, citing its timeless quality.