BOXING is very much a family affair.

Whether it’s a father and son team intent on world domination or a Partridge-style clan where everyone wants to join in the pugilistic ‘fun’, you just can’t help but love a boxing family.

There’s an age old adage in boxing which states that “success breeds success”.

But is their really any truth in that theory?

It’s certainly not uncommon to see a former great declare their son or daughter the heirs to their vacant fight throne. However, it’s rare to see a second generation fighter eclipse the first.

But the son of a true British icon could be set to break that stereotype.

Chris Eubank will go down as one of the most colourful characters that not just boxing, but the world of sport has ever seen. A ferocious fighter in his heyday, the former super middleweight king carved out a career that etched his names into boxing folklore forever.

But after 17 years away from the ring, he’s on a mission to launch the Eubank name back into boxing’s upper echelons.

His son, Chris Jr, is making waves on the boxing scene. In his first four years as a pro, the young Eubank has done everything he can to not only emulate his father’s in-ring ability but his infamous pantomime bravado (albeit minus the lisp).

But after fighting a string of weak opposition, the previously unbeaten Eubank tasted defeat for the first time last November against top British middleweight Billy Joe Saunders.

However, as I’ve stated in a previous column, losing his precious zero could well be the start of his fledgling career rather than the demise. And the 24-year-old bounced back in style last month by stopping Russia’s Dmitry Chudinov in the 12th round.

But Eubank Jr can be thankful that he has already had a better career than most boxing’s famous offspring.

Ronald Hearns (son of Tommy), Marvis Frazier (son of Joe), Aaron Pryor Jr and Hector Camacho Jr didn’t quite live up to their hype.

But there are those who have bucked the trend most notably a certain Floyd Mayweather Jr. Floyd Sr may have been a good professional but young Floyd’s record speaks for itself; 47-0, a five-weight world champion and the highest-paid athlete on the planet.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Cory Spinks achieved world title glory while Laila Ali did dad Muhammad proud with her professional exploits. .

We’ve not seen the last of the second generation boxers. Incredibly, the sons of Steve Collins, Michael Gomez and Paul Hodkinson will all share a bill this weekend!

And it won’t be long before we see the third generation step through the ropes. But another Eubank might just be too much to handle!