Billy Joe Saunders v Chris Eubank Jr

Warren angered by Eubank no-show at ExCel

ESPN staff

November 3, 2014

Frank Warren said Chris Eubank Senior was behind his son's no-show © Getty Images

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Promoter Frank Warren was left fuming after Chris Eubank Junior missed a media conference to promote his WBO middleweight title eliminator fight with Billy Joe Saunders.

The undefeated pair, both 25, will face off at the ExCel Arena in London on November 29 and much of the build-up to the fight has been dominated by the bad blood between the boxers.

Eubank Junior has already missed one conference this year and Warren believes it is down to his father and manager, former world champion Chris Eubank Senior.

Billy Joe Saunders maintained his unbeaten career with victory over Emanuel Blandamura in July © PA Photos

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"I can't tell you how angry it makes me," Warren said. "I'm apologising but I feel the ones apologising should be [the Eubanks].

"He agreed to come here and in the last day or so we've had a situation where they will only show up - and I have the text message here - if a £50,000 bond was put into an escrow, as he doesn't trust Bill not to put his hands on Junior.

Warren then read aloud the text message from Eubank Senior, which said: "He [Saunders] is on video saying he will slap him [Eubank Junior]. I will take him at his word. If he has that money to lose he will think twice about carrying out the threat."

Warren added: "I've not had anything like that happen at any of my press conferences. We offered to have four security men here or put a fence down the middle.

"Billy has an impeccable record at press conferences and at fights."

Saunders, the British, Commonwealth and European middleweight champion, told BBC Sport: "His dad thinks for him. Never would I dream about punching somebody at a press conference. Why would I want to do that when I could do it in the ring?"

Saunders has won all 20 of his professional fights, 10 by knock-out, while Eubank Junior has won all 18 of his, 12 by knock-out.