Eddie Hearn Reveals Long-Buried Party Incident That Sparked Chris Eubank Feud

As fight week reaches its peak, Eddie Hearn has opened up about a moment from nearly two decades ago that helped ignite his ongoing rift with the Eubank family. The timing is striking, with Chris Eubank Jr set to face Conor Benn once again this Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Their rematch follows Eubank Jr’s victory in the first bout earlier this year, and with Hearn promoting Benn, yet another chapter is added to a rivalry that has stretched across generations.

A Family Feud Years in the Making

To understand the present tension, you have to go back to the early 1990s. In 1993, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr met in one of British boxing’s most memorable showdowns. The fight, staged at Old Trafford, ended in a draw, meaning both champions walked away with their belts intact.

But the rivalry didn’t stop between the ropes. The Hearns were also deeply involved in the boxing landscape at the time. Barry Hearn, Eddie’s father, played an integral part in guiding Eubank Sr to success, helping him rise to world-title glory in two divisions. Their bond became so strong that Barry later served as best man at Eubank Sr’s wedding.

Despite that closeness, Eddie Hearn and Chris Eubank Sr have famously clashed on numerous occasions. And according to Eddie, one moment from 17 years ago has stuck with him ever since.Hearn recalled the incident while speaking ahead of Saturday’s fight.

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“For my dad’s 60th birthday, I called a surprise party,” he revealed.
“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?'”

Taken aback by the question, Hearn says he tried to explain the significance of the event.

“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.”

Tension Still on Display

That long-held frustration has been visible in recent weeks. During press events ahead of the rematch, Eubank Jr has repeatedly spoken over Hearn. At the final media gathering on November 13, the promoter resorted to holding up cue cards to make his points—an act that drew plenty of laughter from the audience but not from Eubank Jr himself, who criticised the move.

With Benn vs. Eubank Jr approaching, the decades-old rivalry between the families clearly remains alive—and as fiery as ever.