Chris Eubank Jr joined Ring Magazine to talk about his most recent press conference for the rematch with Conor Benn where he really laid into promoter Eddie Hearn, and also talks about his expectations for the upcoming sequel. Here’s some of what he had to say down below.
Eubank on accusing Hearn on keeping his ambulance from leaving the arena after the first Benn fight
“What I can say is obviously Eddie Hearn wasn’t physically standing in the way of the ambulance but he is the head promoter in and he’s controlling the event, and in that event one of the main participants was held up in an ambulance for
over 20 minutes and not able to leave the grounds to go to hospital. So regardless of whether he directly or indirectly had anything to do with it, there is some accountability that needs to be had.
“There was no investigation, no apologies, whereas all the other things I’ve getting investigated for: the saunas and egg slaps. Everyone is immediately jumping on me for that but where’s the investigation for something as serious as an ambulance not being able to leave a stadium. It doesn’t sit right with me. So hopefully we can get to the bottom of that situation over the next couple of weeks. I’ve been called a liar, I’ve been called a drama queen, but what reason would I have to lie about something as serious as that? It can’t happen again.”
On how the first fight with Benn transpired in the ring
“I am going to go into that ring on November 15 and we’re going to set the record straight. I won the first fight but I won it in a fashion which I was proud of but at the same time there was disappointment in that victory. I wanted to make sure that he didn’t see the 12th round. I wanted to make sure there was no question of who the better fighter was and the fact that Conor Benn can come away from that fight saying he hurt me and ‘I was one shot away from finishing the fight’ — that’s all lies but I want it to be conclusive this time around.”
On how strongly he considered not taking the Benn rematch with the same rehydration clause that affected him the first time
“These are not easy waters to navigate. The final contract for this fight hasn’t actually even been fully agreed on. There’s still a few things we’re going to try to smooth out and make right.
“We agreed for a second fight before the first fight but there are certain parts of the contract that are up for negotiation. I’m not going to go into what parts of those contracts they are but we are still in negotiations for certain things. So it’s up to me and my team to get the best deal, let’s put it that way.”
