Chris Eubank Jr retracts corruption allegations against BBBofC and Robert Smith

Chris Eubank Jr has retracted allegations of corruption against British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith and apologised after reaching a confidential settlement over comments made during the build-up to his rematch with Conor Benn.

Eubank issued a statement on Wednesday accepting that claims he made about Smith and the Board at a press conference on September 17, 2025 were “untrue and without any foundation”.

He said:
“In a press conference held on 17 September 2025 to publicise the forthcoming fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, I made statements about Mr Smith and the British Boxing Board of Control Limited (the ‘Board’), including that Mr Smith is in the back pockets of Matchroom and Eddie Hearn, had as a consequence tried to ruin my preparation for the fight with Mr Benn on 29 April 2025, and that Mr Smith and the Board have used fines imposed on me to line their own pockets.
I accept that these statements are untrue and without any foundation. I accept that neither Mr Smith nor the Board are corrupt and I retract my statements in full.
I have agreed a settlement of these matters on confidential terms. The parties now consider the matter resolved. I apologise for the harm caused to both Mr Smith and the Board.”

Editor’s note: Eubank’s statement refers to his first fight with Benn as taking place on April 29, 2025. The bout was held on April 26, 2025.

The dispute stemmed from Eubank’s appearance at the launch press conference for his November 2025 rematch with Benn, where he launched a lengthy attack on Smith and the BBBofC over their handling of events surrounding the pair’s first fight.

Eubank accused Smith of being “in the back pockets of Matchroom and Eddie Hearn” and alleged that the Board had interfered with his preparation for the contest. He also questioned what happened to money raised through fines imposed by the governing body.

The comments followed a turbulent build-up to Eubank’s first meeting with Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Eubank had been fined £100,000 by the BBBofC for misconduct after striking Benn with an egg during a press conference in February 2025.

He later missed the contracted 160lb weight limit by 0.05lb ahead of the fight and incurred a separate £375,000 contractual penalty. That money was payable to Benn under the fighters’ agreement rather than to the Board.
Eubank went on to beat Benn by unanimous decision on April 26 before being taken to hospital following the contest.

Board took legal advice over Eubank comments

Smith subsequently confirmed that the BBBofC had taken legal advice following Eubank’s September remarks.

Legal proceedings relating to the press conference were later reported, with Matchroom Boxing also understood to have pursued a separate matter concerning allegations Eubank made about the promoter and events surrounding his departure from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the first Benn fight.

Eubank’s latest statement specifically addresses the allegations he made concerning Smith and the BBBofC.

He has now accepted that neither Smith nor the Board is corrupt, withdrawn the allegations in full and said the parties consider the matter resolved.

The terms of the settlement remain confidential.

Update: The British Boxing Board of Control has confirmed that a confidential settlement has been reached with Chris Eubank Jr and said it will not be offering any further comment.