Eddie Hearn Reveals Incident at Party 17 Years Ago Started Chris Eubank Feud
Eddie Hearn has spoken out about an incident that contributed to his feud with Chris Eubank, just hours before Eubank Jr faces Conor Benn.
Benn and Eubank Jr meet again on Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, following Eubank Jr's victory in their first bout earlier this year.
Hearn, as Benn's promoter, adds another layer to a family rivalry that has now spanned several decades.
Back in 1993, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr stepped into the ring for one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
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The pair met at Old Trafford for the unified world super-middleweight title, but the bout ended in a draw, with both men retaining their respective belts.
However, the rivalry runs deeper than the fighters, with the Hearn family heavily involved.
Eddie Hearn's father, Barry Hearn, played a key role in Eubank Sr's career, guiding him to world titles in two weight divisions.
They developed such a strong relationship that Barry was later best man at Eubank Sr's wedding.
Despite that friendship, Eddie Hearn and Eubank Sr have clashed numerous times over the years.
And now, Hearn has recalled an incident from nearly two decades ago that he has never forgotten.
"For my dad's 60th birthday, I called a surprise party," Hearn said.
"And I wanted to invite a small group of people that were so important in his life, that meant so much to him, and I made the call to Chris Eubank.
"This was 17 years ago an the first thing he asked me was 'is there an appearance fee?'
"And I will never ever forget that. When I said 'no it's a birthday for the guy that changed your life forever I'd really appreciate if you come.'
"He said 'will you pay for my driver' and I said f**k it I'll pay for the driver and I had to come out and pay the driver, and I will never ever forget that."
Hearn's strained relationship with the Eubank family has been evident in recent weeks, with Eubank Jr often talking over the promoter at press conferences.
At the latest media event on November 13, Hearn instead held up cards with words on them, drawing laughter from those in the room.
But Eubank Jr did not see the funny side, and criticised the stunt.
That tension between Hearn and the Eubanks adds another intriguing layer to a rivalry that has spanned two generations.
And in an interview with ESPN, Hearn insisted he believes Saturday's fight is as big as the famous showdown back in 1993.
SPORTbible has contacted Chris Eubank for comment.
Topics: Eddie Hearn, Boxing, Conor Benn, Chris Eubank Jr
James Taylor