Chris Eubank Jr has slammed modern-day promoters for ‘giving out disgusting contracts’ that ‘lock’ fighters into long-term deals they ‘can’t escape for years and years.’
The 35-year-old middleweight, set to face Kamil Szeremeta this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol undercard, recently criticised top promoters such as Frank Warren.
At a London press conference, Eubank Jr was asked about his decision to sign with Ben Shalom’s BOXXER. He responded by labeling other promoters as ‘scumbags’ but later issued an apology on social media for his remarks.
In a separate interview with One on One Boxing, recorded prior to the press conference, Eubank Jr expanded on his views, stating there is ‘no difference’ between today’s promoters and Don King, who was infamous for exploiting his fighters.
Eubank Jr also stated it was his duty to speak up and voice his concerns over modern day promoters to help fighters who may be struggling to get out of unfair contracts.
Chris Eubank Jr has slammed modern-day promoters for ‘giving out disgusting contracts’
The 35-year-old middleweight, set to face Kamil Szeremeta this Saturday, recently criticised top promoters such as Frank Warren
When asked about his relationship with the top crop of promoters, Eubank Jr told One on One Boxing: ‘I understand the game. I don’t trust any of these guys at all. You know, they are. They’re not good people. Let’s just put it that way.
‘There is no difference. They flower it up but they’re the same guys. Nothing’s changed. I now understand these guys and I move accordingly. Now I have my own legal team, my own accountants, my own advisors. I don’t just go off of what my what the promoters are telling me.
‘They’re giving out disgusting contracts. Despicable contracts. The sad thing is, boxers are not educated guys in general. Most of us didn’t go to great schools. Most boxers spent their time in the gyms. So they don’t know about percentages and image rights and all the things that are going on in the background that you should be making money off of that all the promoters are taking from.
‘They don’t know about any of that. They just see the number that is there. They think okay, I can get a chain. I can get a house. I can get those things so okay, yeah I’ll sign. They don’t look at all the pages of small print, which lock them into these mad things that they can’t get out of for years and years and years.
‘So many fighters have been screwed over by these promoters and will still continue to get screwed over until people like me speak out and make people aware that these things happen, and you have to have people that are, you know, working for your best interests.’
Eubank Jr attended a press conference in London shortly after his chat with One on One and launched an attack on modern-day promoters.
He was questioned about his recent decision to sign for Shalom’s promotional outfit and said: ‘Why BOXXER? Because every other promoter out here is a scumbag. He [Frank Warren] sued me for a couple of hundred thousand a few years ago so obviously I’d never go with him. Scumbag.
‘Kalle Sauerland, kept me in a terrible contract for several years. Scumbag. Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith tried everything they could to make this Connor Benn fight. So yes, scumbags. The only one who isn’t is Turki Alalshikh.
‘This is a man who isn’t trying to take money for fighters, and use lawyers and accountants in slave contracts.’
Warren, who had previously sued Eubank Jnr for a breach of contract, later threatened to take legal action over the boxer’s comments.
‘The bottom line of it is very simple. He was sued by me for a legal breach of a contract and I was successful in suing him and he paid substantial damages,’ Warren said in an interview on talkSPORT.
‘Now you know what he can’t accept is what’s legal and what’s not. And as regarding what he’s just said just so you know I’m gonna keep it short and sweet. He’s gonna get sued again for the comments that he’s made publicly. He will be sued and he will have a problem over that and anybody else who says it, they can get in that queue.’
Eubank later issued a statement retracting his comments with Warren accepting his apology
Eubank Jr facing off with Szeremeta at the press conference in London earlier this month
A joint statement was later released by Eubank Jnr and Warren with the boxer apologising for his comments in the press conference.
‘Following today’s press conference for the historic Riyadh Season on October 12th, I would like to retract my inaccurate statements and offer my apologies to Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn and Kalle Sauerland,’ Eubank Jnr said. ‘I now wish to focus purely on boxing and preparing for a huge fight in Riyadh next month.’
Warren added: ‘I accept Chris’ apology and retraction. I too have said things before and apologise to him also if any criticism of him has upset him in the past.
‘I look forward to seeing him compete on this huge Riyadh Season card. We look ahead to some potentially massive bouts in the future.’
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