Tributes have poured in for Sebastian Eubank, the son of double world champion Chris, who has died at the age of 29.
Eubank, the younger brother of Chris Jr, was found dead on a beach in Dubai, where he lived, after apparently drowning.
His father, the former two-weight world champion, confirmed the tragedy 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,” he wrote.
"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.
"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.”
His mother added: “Our whole family is grieving at the huge loss of our son and brother, Sebastian. Please respect our grief and privacy while we try to comprehend our loss.”
Sebastian grew up in Hove on the south-coast of England and boxed as an amateur and a professional before making a debut in MMA earlier this year.
He moved to Dubai in his mid-twenties. He has been due to fight at the O2 arena on the undercard of brother Chris Jr's win over James DeGale in 2019, but the bout was cancelled because the event was overrunning.
“Rest easy little brother. I love you & you will be missed always,” Chris Jr said on Twitter.
Among those to pay tribute on social media was former WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves. “Seb was a great guy, I remember sparring him many years ago in London. My thoughts are with the Eubank family,” Groves wrote.
Others who took to Twitter to pay their respects included Tony Bellew, Eddie Hearn, Anthony Ogogo, Kid Galahad, Frank Buglioni, Packie Collins, Florian Marku, Derek Chisora, Tommy Frank, Lisa Whiteside and KSI.
