Chris Eubank Jr. faced backlash after a recent press conference when it appeared he was shutting down Eddie Hearn during a tribute to the late, great Ricky Hatton.
Hatton was found dead in his home in early September, sending the boxing community, the wider sporting world and indeed the general British public into mourning.
At the press conference to announce Eubank Jr’s rematch with Conor Benn, there was a moment when Hearn began paying tribute to the Manchester fighter and was talked over by Eubank, as had been the case in previous media events when the pair were both present. The promoter expressed his disgust at the interupption.
Speaking to Daily Mail Boxing, Eubank has now explained the situation from his point of view, saying he believes Hearn did it to try and make him look bad.
“That was pretty disgusting of Eddie Hearn to do what he did. There had already been a tribute to the legend, the icon that was Ricky Hatton. That tribute happened at the beginning of the press conference. I’m saying the things I want to say. He knows that as soon as he talks, I’m going to shut it down. So he started for some random reason to try and talk about Ricky Hatton.
“He knew I was going to interrupt him no matter what he said, which I did. I didn’t hear he was talking about Ricky. I was just shutting him down regardless of what he was saying, so using Ricky Hatton’s passing to try and talk in a press conference is disgusting. Again, Ricky Hatton was a legend; he inspired a generation. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one so my thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Eubank, as alluded to, lost his brother Sebastian to a heart attack back in 2021, so he has experienced a similar family tragedy and had previously paid tribute to Hatton on social media.
He fights Benn – who was close with the ‘The Hitman’ and wore a Manchester City top to honour him at the same press conference – in November at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will be hoping to repeat his victory from the first fight in April.
