CHRIS EUBANK JR’S emotional reconciliation with his dad on the night of his life resonated with both Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez.
Eubank Jr was preparing to head into the biggest bout of his career against Conor Benn without the man who inspired the second generation fight.
Chris Eubank Jr reunited with his dad before beating Conor Benn[/caption]
The father and son duo celebrate the historic victory[/caption]
Devin Haney with his dad and coach Bill[/caption]
Teofimo Lopez with his dad Teofimo Sr[/caption]
Amid a public falling out, Eubank Sr blasted his son’s decision to stay at middleweight to fight welterweight Benn.
But, three decades on from his victory and draw against Benn’s dad Nigel, Eubank Sr sent the boxing world into a frenzy by returning to his son’s side.
The 67,000 fans inside Tottenham’s £1billion stadium went wild and left a huge grin on Haney’s face as he watched in awe from across the pond.
Haney, 26, told SunSport: “Oh man, I love to see both of them.
“I love to see that moment. It was great for boxing, it was great for the fans, it was just great overall seeing both with their dads.
“Even one losing, and his dad embracing him and one winning and his dad embracing him it was just beautiful to see.
“I was smiling ear to ear, just watching the whole thing.”
Haney has always been coached and guided by his dad Bill – with the pair inseparable.
Eubank Jr vs Benn: SunSport’s verdict
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS of the Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr rivalry was settled with 36 minutes of violence.
Yet with all the tremendous heart shown by both boxers, there wasn’t much technique, skill or finesse on display here.
After tons of trash talking, egg throwing and mind games that have been played out to the world over the last three years, SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr gives his verdict on what should be the final chapter in one of British boxing’s biggest beefs.
Read here to find out why the 12-round slugfest should not be repeated – and why the rivalry should now be put to bed.
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Similarly, Lopez is also trained by his dad Teofimo Sr, and he felt Nigel and Eubank Sr’s presence in their sons’ corners more than most.
Lopez, 27, told us: “It was good to see Nigel Benn, not only Nigel Benn, but it was good to see Chris Eubank and his father for sure, man.
“It was very good. I was happy to see that. I think we all were as a boxing community happy to see them together and yeah nevertheless I think that it was great.”
Eubank walked away with a unanimous decision win and most importantly family bragging rights after a gruelling slugfest.
Lopez added: “The fight was amazing.
“Turned out more than what everyone expected it to be – a full blast of entertainment. These guys didn’t stop throwing punches.
“I look forward to the rematch, definitely well earned and deserved and I had my prediction correct and I had my odds right, I said before the fight that I had Eubank winning. I was right.”
Lopez himself has had public spats with his dad like Eubank Jr – causing a strain on their relationship away from boxing at times.
And he admitted: “It’s definitely not easy if you’re gonna be separated from your loved one or from your father who’s always been in your corner.
It was just beautiful to see. I was smiling ear to ear, just watching the whole thing.
Devin Haney on Chris Eubank Jr reuniting with his dad
“Thankfully I haven’t been in that position, to see Chris Eubank go and still push forward and keep moving forward despite his father being in his corner until then, I mean kudos to him as well.
“Well earned and I was happy for him for him getting the decision.”
Haney is using Eubank’s resilience in and out the ring as inspiration for his return fight on Friday night against Jose Ramirez.
He said: “It was more motivation for me even going into this fight, because this is a big moment for us.
“The whole world is gonna be watching, seeing what Devin Haney shows up. So yeah, it was just motivation.”
The former undisputed lightweight champion was dropped three times in defeat to Ryan Garcia, 26, in April 2024.
But the result was later overturned due to Garcia testing positive for ostarine – which helps improve muscle gain – in tests taken on the day of and 24 hours following the fight.
Haney subsequently had his unbeaten record restored – but the beatdown against Garcia still lives long in the memory for fans.
He took a year off – with his baby daughter arriving into the world in January – and a rematch with Garcia is planned for this year.
But Haney has to first beat Ramirez, 32, while Garcia faces Rolando Romero, 29, on the same night in Times Square.
Haney said: “Right now it’s not time for me to speak on that. Right now my main focus is Jose Ramirez and focusing on Jose.
“We’ll get to that Ryan fight after this one, but right now I put all my attention, all my focus on Jose Ramirez because he’s a live dog.
“He’s coming to fight. That’s my main focus right now.”
Lopez also features on the historic three-fight card outside the iconic New York tourist spot.
He defends his WBO super-lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr, 33, and said: “I’m happy, looking forward to a great show.”
Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez ahead of their fight[/caption]
Teofimo Lopez faces Arnold Barboza on the same night[/caption]