Chris Eubank: I would tear Nigel Benn apart

Talk has raged over the last year about whether the two will renew their 1990s rivalry in an unlikely trilogy fight,

Benn has apparently set a deadline of around two months for his hated nemesis to come out of a near 20-year retirement. He's 52 now, while Eubank is 49.

'The Dark Destroyer' hung up his gloves in 1996, Eubank following suit in 1998 but both are still involved in the sport.

Benn has entrusted his son Conor to Ricky Hatton's gym in Greater Manchester and trains there whenever he's back home, having relocated to Sydney in Australia.

Eubank is guiding the career of his son Chris Jnr, who has the opportunity to claim the British title his father never won later this month.

He did take Benn's WBO world middleweight title by ninth round stoppage in 1990, the fighting to a draw for the WBC super middleweight crown in a record-breaking rematch three years later.

The nostalgia of those nights could yet see them do it all again, but Eubank insists he will demonstrate in painful fashion he is Benn's bogeyman should that ever happen.

He said: "What a wonderful thing that would be. It could be a lot of fun. But, make no mistake about it, I would tear him a new orifice."

For the time being, Eubank is focused on guiding his child to victory over defending British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell on March 26 at Wembley Arena.

'Next Gen' has 21 wins out of 22 as a professional, his one defeat coming on points to now WBO world titlist Billy Joe Saunders.

The 26-year-old is the top contender to the WBA world crown, but him going for the Lonsdale belt first represents a labour of love for his Jamaican-born father.

Eubank Snr said: "The British title means a lot to me, my father came over in the 1950s and taught me to be a patriot. He loved everything British.

"It's probably something that the natives of this country don't get like I do. It's something that I will always champion.

"If 'junior' can get the belt, I think my strutt is going to come back out. I will be walking very tall on that particular evening.

"This is no walkover, the opponent is on edge because he knows it's on top of him. That doesn't lessen a fighter, it makes him more dangerous.

"My 'junior' is a monster. He can't be as good as me, come on, but he as good as any middleweight or super middleweight in the world. He's my son, my baby."

Eubank took centre stage for 'An Evening With' show for 300 guests in the Premier Suite at Scott Murray's Bar Sport in Cannock this week.

Among them was Coseley's Andy Flute, a former fighter himself who boxed for the British middleweight title in 1994.

The 46-year-old travelled up and down the country acting as a sparring partner for the likes of Michael Watson, Benn and Eubank, so it was a reunion of sorts.

Eubank said: "The first sparring session with a new partner, you have to make sure they know who's the boss. I put it on him for the first couple of times.

"In order to keep the sparring my trainer, Ronnie Davies, used to tell them 'the way you will stay with him is never give him time to settle, you always have to be on top of him.'

"He used to explain to them how to keep me from doing lots of damage. Once they got past the first few spars, my thing was about learning.

"Maybe once or twice, I would keep them honest. I think the major point is that many of them went on to perform at championship level themselves - as did Andy."

Eubank has had bankruptcy, a divorce to the mother of his four children and remarriage to his manager to contend with since retirement, but remains buoyant.

He added: "Life is great, it's a pretty tough ordeal but it's whether you embrace it or not. Because I'm doing that, it's working out well. It's wonderful and magical.

"When you say things like 'this has been done to me' or 'it's not fair,' then it must be a tough ride. I learned that when I was young. Everything is beautiful."

Eubank was regarded as flamboyant and arrogant in equal measure outside of the ring but, inside the ropes, was strong and fit and possessed 'the chin of steel.'

Only Thompson - who would later go on to become the only man to stop David Haye - could get the job done inside the distance.

Thompson, Joe Calzaghe and Steve Collins (twice) also beat him on points, leaving Eubank on a 45-5-2 pro record, with 23 knockouts from those 45 wins.