Chris Eubank Snr reacts to his son’s fight against Conor Benn being called off

A relieved Chris Eubank Snr has spoken out after his son’s fight against Conor Benn was postponed 48 hours before the opening bell.

Eubank Jr and Benn were set to follow in their fathers’ footsteps in a grudge match between the two sons at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday.

But during a stunning week for boxing, it emerged Benn, 26, had returned ‘adverse findings’ for the banned substance clomifene in a drug test carried out in September. Despite efforts to keep the fight going, the British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction the fight with it officially called off on Thursday afternoon.

Eubank Snr refused to have any part to play in the fight despite pleas from his son, sharing grave concerns over the stipulation requiring Jnr to drop down to a catchweight of 157lbs, having regularly campaigned at 160lbs and 168lbs.

Eubank Snr told Metro.co.uk in September: ‘My son cannot come down beneath 160. That is what I say. What my son says, he says in the blind, in the dark, he does not know about being 32 and coming down beneath 160, even once ounce. One ounce. no. It must not be. We mustn’t do this.

‘I cannot lose another son. They don’t know what it is to go one pound beneath 160lbs if you are a middleweight. It is a life and death situation. No, don’t do that to my son.’

Eubank Snr also called for boxing fans to boycott the fight at the start of the week.

Promoter and former fighter Spencer Fearon shared a teaser clip of an interview with Eubank Snr on Friday following news of the fight being called off.

Fearon told Eubank Snr: ‘It’s been cancelled sir. It’s been cancelled, so when you put out the statement that you wanted it to be boycotted, it’s now cancelled, so it seems your words carry weight and power.’

Reacting to the news, the former middleweight and super-middleweight champion said: ‘Well I’m only speaking what the people – what any father would speak.’

The full interview from Fearon with Eubank Snr is expected to be released later today.

Eubank Snr shared two colossal wars with Nigel Benn in 1990 and 1993. Benn Snr had been active in his son’s fight camp alongside trainer Tony Sims and was set to be in Conor’s corner this weekend.

Benn has vowed to clear his name following the positive test with his father insisting they will ‘get to the bottom of this’ with hope the fight can be rescheduled.

Taking to Instagram, Benn said: ‘Hi guys. As you know, we’re in total shock. I’ve been with my son for the last 10 weeks and the training has just gone absolutely the best it could have ever been. He’s a dedicated trainer; he leaves no stone unturned and we’ll get to the bottom of this. I love my son and I know he doesn’t cut any corners, he just goes straight at it, 100 per cent.

‘We’ll keep you informed. We’ll let you know what the next step is, but he’s a faithful trainer and he’s a clean athlete. Speak to you all soon. God bless.’

MORE : Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank: How British boxing’s greatest ever rivalry spoke to society like no other fight

MORE : Boxing’s credibility left on the canvas as Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr postponement caps nightmare week

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