I gave Chris Eubank Sr a father-to-father talk and told him to be there for his son... and here's why it brought a lump in my throat to see him ringside, writes JOHNNY NELSON

Daily Mail​

27-04-2025

Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
That was my parting message to Chris Eubank when we finished our telephone conversation on Saturday. I was appealing to him as a father, to a father, be there for your son.
I'd texted Chris on Friday because I was worried. After seeing what extremes his son had put himself through to make the weight, I thought 'God forbid, something happens to him in this fight and his father isn't there'. He would never have been able to live with it.
What had struck me was when Chris Jr, pre-fight, talked about what 'real pain' was, burying his brother in the desert and now not having his father by his side.
I have lost too many people in my life to just let that go. If that was my son, that appeal would have broken my heart. As a parent, it struck me if something happened, Chris would never get over it.
I telephoned him late Saturday morning and over the next hour and a half we went back and forth. He explained to me why he wasn't going to be there. I swore at him, and he scolded me for swearing, then started quoting Bible verses.
I know Chris said afterwards that he had always planned to be there but, trust me, that wasn't the message I was getting from our conversation.
I told him how I had fallen out with my own mother many years ago. We didn't speak for years. And even though we made up and I did everything to make up for it, when she passed, I regretted wasting that period in our lives together because every memory and second with them is important, especially a parent. I've got a brother; I love him but I don't like the things he does. Families have their disputes. We may not like them, but deep down we always love them.
I said to Chris, even if you come in by the back door and no-one sees you. Just do it for your son. You may not like what he has done but you do love him. If you are going to quote religion to me, then remember this: Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do.
It was a real father to father talk. By the time we had finished, I'd just arrived at the Tottenham Stadium. He thanked me for the call, and we said our goodbyes.
When I saw him that night get out of the car to be there for his son, it brought a lump to my throat. They came to me for a reaction on camera and I was thinking 'I'm going to have to pull myself together here or I'll start blubbing'.
When he came out of the lift, his hand on Chris Jr's shoulder and it cut to Conor Benn's dressing room, it was pure theatre. 'Rocky' couldn't have scripted it better. And, no matter what Conor and Nigel said, I think his arrival tipped the balance. Every son, every father, knows that feeling when your father is behind you, giving that support, you grow and that was what made the difference for Chris Jr. It lifted him.
But the fight those boys produced, left both their fathers immensely proud. Warriors who were fathers of warriors.
Consider they are two young men born into wealth, but they fought with the hunger of two boys born into poverty. There was nothing fake, no bull@@@@, just a pure, honest representation of our great sport that had everyone talking about it on Sunday morning. You didn't hear a moan or groan from anyone leaving that stadium on Saturday night because of how those two boys left everything in that ring.
In the end, Conor's inactivity and Chris Jr's greater experience tipped the fight the way it went.
Conor was the fastest developing fighter on the scene but that past 18 months of inactivity told. Even though Chris's legs had gone, he had the muscle memory to use his weight to lean in and keep throwing. Nearly 1,000 punches.
But this little lion Conor wins the re-match if this version of Chris fights again. It wasn't just pure spirit that ensured Chris needed hospital treatment.
I was on the undercard the day Nigel Benn lost to Michael Watson. He was devastated but he went away to America and came back a world champion fighter. When he smiled after Conor's result was read out on Saturday night, I could see in Nigel's eyes, he knew this defeat could be the best thing for his son. He will return a greater fighter.
Other contests may await but this is showbusiness and showbusiness dictates the re-match will be the biggest fight on the horizon.
As for Chris Snr? I sent him a message on Sunday morning, it just said: 'You brought tears to my eyes Saturday. Your son did you proud, God bless both of you.'