CHRIS EUBANK JR has laid bare the heartbreaking state of his relationship with his father, who he’s claimed has shown “no interest” in him or his career for “a long time.”
Eubank Sr, 58, was a driving force in the early stages of his son’s boxing career and a charismatic ever-present at his fights.
But the former WBO middleweight and super-middleweight champion’s relationship with his namesake has become strained in recent years.
The pair’s relationship, or lack thereof, will come further under the microscope whenever Eubank Jr finally shares the ring with Conor Benn, the son of his old man’s bitter rival Nigel Benn.
Having his father in his corner for the historic domestic dust-up would be a dream for Jr, who said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show: “I would love for him to be involved.
“The fact that I even have to say that is insane, how is that even a thing?
“That his son is going to fight the son of his arch nemesis all those years ago when he was a world champion.
“How was it a thing that he may not be there? But, it’s a thing, we don’t talk.
“He has shown no interest in my career for a long period of time now, he’s shown no interest in me in a long period of time.”
Eubank Jr, 35, reaches out to his father “every once in a while” but claims to receive nothing but blunt responses.
He said: “Sometimes he, you know, it’ll be a one-word answer or an Instagram post but there’s no real conversation there.
“It’s sad but, I’m my own man and I’ve got massive things on my plate, in my path that I have to complete, I have to succeed in.
“So I can’t let anything like that affect me spiritually, mentally, emotionally, I have to be strong, I have to be focused.
“Once my career is done, then I can try, you know, spend time worrying about other people’s feelings but for right now, it’s all systems go man. I’ve gotta be me.”
Jr is still trying to come to terms with why his father has opted to distance himself from himself and the rest of his siblings.
He said: “As somebody who’s lost a son, I think that that’s a pretty insane thing to be doing.
“An insane way to be acting, to kind of not be speaking to, you know, your remaining kids.
“But, he’s his own man, he’s dealing with his situation how he thinks he should and all I can do is sit and wait and hope that he comes around at some point.
“But I can’t tell you if that will happen any time soon.”
The fractured nature of his relationship with his dad is something Jr initially played down in a bid to avoid any further friction.
But the IBO middleweight champion is DONE holding his tongue for the sake of keeping up appearances.
He said: “For a long time, I kind of tried to act like it was cool,” he added. “People would ask me, ‘How’s your Dad?’
“‘Yeah, we’re good.’ But I got sick of that s**t, man. It’s bulls**t, we’re not cool, we’re not okay and people need to know.”
Eubank battered Kamil Szeremeta last time out in Saudi on the Bivol vs Beterbiev undercard, stopping the Pole in the seventh round after four knockdowns.
