Chris Eubank Jr has spent his entire life seeking the approval of his father and former world champion Chris Eubank Sr.
But in the days before the biggest fight of his career against Conor Benn – a revival of the family feud which started with their fathers 35 years ago – Eubank Jr cut an isolated figure.
At the final news conference before that grudge match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, Eubank Jr spoke about the “pain” of no longer having a relationship with his dad.
They had, at that point, been estranged for several years with Eubank Sr criticising the match-up.
Eubank Sr also publicly called his son a “disgrace” after slapping Benn with an egg during a face-off.
“I’m going to stand in your corner? You must be mad,” Eubank Sr said.
“I will never be in your corner.”
A reunion between the pair looked impossible as the bout drew closer until Eubank Sr made the first move – reaching out via text message just 24 hours before the fight.
“I called him and he wanted to see me, I told him ‘I can’t take any negativity’,” Eubank Jr said.
“He said ‘no, I have nothing negative to say, I want to be next to you’.
“Regardless of what has been said and done, I’m always going to greet him with open arms.”
Eubank Sr had seen his son come under verbal attack – with his father’s absence used as a weapon – and felt he needed to act.
The pair met that night and kept their reconciliation under strict wraps.
The first anyone knew of it was when Eubank Sr emerged out of a taxi backstage- and elevator for those watching on TV – beside his son. The boxing world at ringside and at home witnessing a now famous sporting moment.
“You didn’t have any support, that was a very dangerous fight and I’m so glad that I cut off and away from you for so long and that I said there was no way I’m coming to that fight,” Eubank Sr said.
“I turned up at the last minute to give you the last piece of energy.”
The presence of his father on fight night clearly had a positive impact as Eubank Jr won by unanimous decision.
Eubank Sr will be back by his son’s side for the rematch on Saturday.
“Him in my corner gave me that boost, that extra per cent to get the job done,” Eubank Jr said.
“When it truly counted, he was there for me.”
In a new BBC film, both men open up about their split and very public reconciliation, and what their mended relationship looks like now.
