Chris Eubank Jr has taken aim at modern-day boxing promoters, accusing them of exploiting fighters by offering “disgusting contracts” that lock athletes into long-term deals they “can’t escape for years.” The 35-year-old middleweight, who is scheduled to fight Kamil Szeremeta this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, singled out top promoters, including Frank Warren, during a recent press conference in London.
When asked about his decision to join Ben Shalom’s BOXXER promotional outfit, Eubank Jr harshly criticized other promoters, calling them “scumbags,” though he later apologized for the outburst. In a prior interview with One on One Boxing, recorded before the press event, he expanded on his views, stating that there is “no difference” between today’s promoters and notorious figures like Don King, who was infamous for mistreating fighters.
Eubank Jr emphasized that it’s his duty to speak up for boxers who are stuck in unfair contracts, explaining that many fighters aren’t well-versed in legal and financial matters and often sign deals without fully understanding the small print. “They’re giving out despicable contracts,” he said. “Most fighters are not educated in these areas. They see the big number and think they can buy a house or a chain, but they don’t realize they’re signing away their future.”
He added that he doesn’t trust any of the top promoters, explaining that he now has his own legal team, accountants, and advisors to protect his interests. Eubank Jr criticized Warren, Eddie Hearn, and Kalle Sauerland specifically, accusing them of keeping fighters in restrictive contracts and exploiting them for financial gain.
His comments led to a strong response from Warren, who has previously sued Eubank Jr for breach of contract and won. Warren threatened further legal action over the recent remarks, stating on talkSPORT that Eubank Jr would “get sued again” for his public accusations.
However, following the backlash, Eubank Jr issued an apology in a joint statement with Warren. “I would like to retract my inaccurate statements and offer my apologies to Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn, and Kalle Sauerland,” Eubank Jr said. “I now wish to focus purely on my boxing and preparing for the huge fight in Riyadh.”
Warren accepted the apology, stating that he too had said things in the past that he regretted. Both parties expressed a desire to move forward, with Warren adding that he looked forward to seeing Eubank Jr compete on the Riyadh Season card and in future big bouts.
