A new BBC documentary about the Eubank boxing family has proven to be unexpectedly moving, bringing viewers to tears with its raw portrayal of a father and son rebuilding their relationship after years of estrangement.
Four Years of Silence Broken
The Eubanks: Like Father, Like Son follows Chris Eubank Jr as he prepares for his fight against Conor Benn, the son of his father's great 1990s rival Nigel Benn. What makes this documentary particularly compelling is that it charts the reconciliation between Chris Jr and his father after they hadn't spoken for four years.
The estrangement began when Eubank Jr made the difficult decision to sack his father as his coach. This was a professional move the younger boxer felt necessary to advance his career, believing he needed new strategies and guidance to reach the next level in boxing.
A Complex Father-Son Dynamic
Chris Eubank Sr responds to his son's decision with raw honesty in the documentary, admitting he was "deeply, deeply, deeply hurt" by the move. The elder Eubank doesn't shy away from discussing his controlling nature, stating plainly: "Yes, it's control. There's nothing wrong with that."
The documentary reveals Eubank Sr's disciplinarian approach to parenting, including his admission: "I brought him up with the cane, I brought him up with the belt... I was fierce as a father." As a coach, he describes his influence over his son: "He was under my spell. And my spell was sweet and loving."
Parental Fear and Family Tragedy
Beneath the tough exterior lies genuine parental concern. Eubank Sr initially resisted his son's involvement in boxing, explaining: "I did not want him to suffer. I was fearful it was going to get him damaged." This fear becomes particularly poignant in the context of the family's tragic loss.
The documentary addresses the death of Eubank's older son, Sebastian, who died of a heart attack four years ago at just 29 years old. Eubank Jr reflects that this tragedy "consumed my father," while Eubank Sr reveals that Sebastian had told him six years before his passing: "You're too extreme." The father's response: "I am extreme, because I love my children."
This background explains Eubank Sr's very public disapproval of his son's fight with Conor Benn, where he warned: "You're a disgrace... The money will get you killed." Though unhelpful to his son's preparation, it stemmed from genuine fear.
Emotional Reconciliation and Support
Despite their differences and public disagreements, Eubank Sr turns up to support his son on fight day in what the documentary captures as a notably undramatic moment of solidarity. After the bout, which saw Eubank Jr require hospital treatment for severe dehydration his father had warned about, the relief and pride are palpable.
Eubank Sr makes his hopes clear that this will be his son's last fight, offering unprecedented praise: "Everywhere you go now - YOU'RE the superstar!" His most powerful moment comes when he speaks directly to camera, every vestige of artifice gone: "I've lost a son. I will not lose another one. I will not lose another one."
The documentary captures these two men, so clearly loved by each other, trying to connect and understand one another. In one particularly moving exchange, the father says: "You will always be my baby," to which his son replies: "I will always be your son."
The Eubanks: Like Father, Like Son is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now, while Chris Eubank Jr prepares for his rematch with Conor Benn on 15 November.
