Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
In a tragic end, former middleweight champion Chris Eubank’s son Sebastian Eubank was been found dead on a beach in Dubai days before his 30th birthday.
Sebastian, fondly called Seb, had been living in the UAE for past years. Following his father’s footsteps, Sebastian made his professional debut in 2018 and fought two bouts, before switching to MMA.
His widow said, Sebastian Eubank died from massive heart attack.
He also made a winning debut in the UAE Warriors 10 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi on Feb.10 this year and was set to return in the promotion’s next edition in September.
The third-eldest son of Eubank Snr’s children, he is survived by wife Salma and one-month-old son Raheem.
Chris confirmed the news of his son’s death on Friday.
Boxer Sebastian Eubank with Fouad Darwish.
He said in a statement: “Never did I ever imagine I would write these words or experience the feeling I now have at the loss of my son. My family and I are devastated to hear of the death of Sebastian just days before what would have been his 30th birthday.
“He leaves his wife Salma, his son Raheem born just a month ago, his mother Karron Meadows, brothers Nathanael, Chris, Jr, Joseph, one sister Emily and countless relatives and friends.
“Sebastian grew up in Hove in England but in the last few years made his life in Dubai where he had a wide circle of friends and was a leader in the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and of alternative therapies.
Ahmed A Seddiqi of Round 10 Boxing club.
“As well as being a personal trainer and professional boxer, Sebastian was also a deep thinker who liked to challenge accepted wisdom. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and will be forever in the thoughts of friends and family.
“As a family we now kindly ask to be given space and privacy to celebrate his life and remember the son, the brother, the husband, the friend.”
Shattered by his younger brother’s death, Chris Eubank Jnr, a former world IBF super middleweight world champion, wrote: “I haven’t cried since I was 12 years old… yesterday I cried the whole day.
“Can’t believe you’re really gone man but you’ll always be in my heart, mind and spirit.”
The UAE boxers, boxing clubs and mixed martial arts community expressed shock over Sebastian’s death.
Sultan Al Nuaimi.
Promising UAE boxer Sultan Al Nuami had known Eubank for four years since he relocated to Dubai.
“It’s really hard to swallow what we heard of Seb,” he said. “Nobody could have imagined this would happen for a young healthy person.
“We use to train together when I was a beginner three years ago. In the last two years, whenever he dropped by at my training, he would come up to me to speak about the improvements in me. He was such a motivational person.
“In recent times, he would also tell me to come over to have a sparring session with him. He was a very friendly and kind-hearted person.”
Sebastian relocated to Dubai in his mid-twenties and was involved with promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle as well as participating in combat sports events across the UAE. He played rugby at a semi-professional level and represented the British and Irish Lions at the Dubai Sevens in 2010.
“Saddened to know about the death of a young boxer. Sebastian will be extremely missed by the boxing community. He used to visit out club for sparring, said,” Ahmed A Seddiqi of Round 10 Boxing club.
“My heartfelt condolences to the family of Sebastian (Eubank). Dubai Boxing Circle will definitely missed him. May his soul rest in peace,” he added.
MTK Global, a boxing, MMA management and event promotions company, paid tribute to Eubank.
“MTK Global would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Eubank family on the tragic loss of their son, brother, husband and friend, Sebastian.
Seb was a proud ambassador of the sport of boxing and gentleman. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Salma, his son Raheem, and the entire Eubank family. May he rest in eternal peace.”
Fouad Darwish, managing director of Palms Sports that organises the UAE Warriors, also devastated with the news of Sebastian’s death.
Darwish had spoken to him only 10 days ago regarding his return to the cage.
“Sebastian came to my office and was interested to fight in our promotion’s next edition,” Darwish said.
“It really broke my heart to learn the sad news this morning.”