Eubank Jr, in an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, revealed that his father, Chris Eubank Snr, used to physically discipline him during his childhood. However, he emphasized that he does not consider it as ‘abuse’. Eubank Jr, aged 33, recalled his upbringing under his father, a former world champion boxer and one of the most renowned fighters in the country.
While growing up, Eubank Jr admitted to fearing his father but refrained from describing the dynamic as ‘unhealthy’. He explained that he would often be beaten with a belt, a cane, or a slap when he misbehaved as a young tearaway, stepping out of line. The middleweight fighter firmly believes that his father’s discipline aimed to teach him about the consequences in life and asserts that it shaped him into the person he is today.
Eubank Jr stated, “I wouldn’t say it was unhealthy; he was incredibly strict. I didn’t get away with anything. Whether it was my performance in school, chores that I neglected, or fights with my siblings, physical punishment was the consequence, be it a belt, a cane, or a slap. Back in the 90s, that was the way parents disciplined their children. That’s where my fear originated from. However, that kind of punishment, my upbringing, it molded me into the person I am now. It prepared me for the harshness of the boxing sport.”
When asked if he considered it abuse, Eubank Jr responded, “Absolutely not. In my opinion… it’s a good question because some people may think that getting hit with a belt or a cane is absolute abuse. But in my perspective, abuse is when it is unjustified, when someone does something without reason. Abuse is when a parent comes home drunk and takes out their anger on their children. That wasn’t the case for me. I was punished when I crossed the line. My father was teaching me that every action has consequences, both good and bad. When I did something good, he rewarded me immensely, and when I did something bad, he punished me. Those were life lessons, not abuse.”
Eubank Jr also shared an incident from his school days when he would try to minimize the impact of the beatings by wearing extra layers of clothing. He would wear multiple shorts, pants, and socks, tucking them into his boxers because he knew he would be in serious trouble when he got home. He even joked about pretending it hurt. However, one day, a sock slipped out, and his father discovered it, leading to a difficult day. Although it was scary and unpleasant at the time, Eubank Jr reflects on the discipline as crucial in shaping his character.
The relationship between father and son has strained over the past year. Eubank Jr is scheduled for a rematch against Liam Smith this weekend.
