Chris Eubank Jr told to retire right now after worrying hospital footage | Boxing | Sport
Conor Benn has urged long-standing rival Chris Eubank Jr to hang up his gloves following the latter’s recent health revelation. Last April, the two fighters clashed in an all-time classic encounter, with Eubank Jr ultimately having his hand raised on points. Seven months later, Benn secured his revenge after flooring his opponent twice on his way to a decision triumph at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.
Prior to both bouts, Eubank Jr battled to reach the 160lb limit, and appeared utterly demoralised throughout the November rematch. Following the contest, the Brit was urged to retire – calls which grew louder just weeks later when he shared concerning footage of himself receiving emergency medical care. In the lead-up to his second clash with Benn, Eubank Jr disclosed that he’s expecting twin boys.
Boxing is an utterly ruthless sport, and Father Time spares nobody. That’s precisely why Benn has called on his bitter foe to step away from the ring permanently.
He said: “Do I think he should call it a day? Personally, I think he should sail off into the sunset. It’s always hard to do that with a loss but I think he should call it a day.
“He’s got twin boys, two beautiful twin boys, that have come into this world and sometimes you need to prioritise your health and safety over everything else. But for some reason I’ll be expecting a phone call once he realises 168lbs is not for him. Who’s he going to fight at 168lbs?”
Amidst suggestions he should hang up his gloves, boxing promoter Ben Shalom recently offered an update on Eubank Jr’s situation and believes the British fighter could make his comeback this summer. “He’s had a lot of stuff to do medically to flush out what he’s been dealing with,” he said.
“Once that’s done, he will be back, probably at 168lb, but there was an underlying issue he had to get rid of. We’re looking forward to him being back in the middle of the year.
“There wasn’t enough time between April and what ended up November, but initially September, to sort out the issue, it was something that required proper medical attention and he didn’t get that. But now he’s getting that sorted. He lives the life and then he can come back in a healthy and safe way.
“But until that’s completely resolved then he wont again in a ring. But from the procedures and everything that he’s had so far, it’s looking like he’ll make a full recovery.”
He added: “When you offer fighters loads of money to do stupid things, that’s what they do.
“Unfortunately it is. That’s where it takes the regulator to say it shouldn’t be allowed. I regret seeing it, but ultimately the fighters have that choice over their own body and there’s only so much you can do. It won’t happen again. But I wouldn’t want to see it again in boxing to be honest. I think it’s really dangerous and will lead to something pretty bad.”
