Dont you wish this guy was still about?

[Autobarn]

I don't think many of us would wish Eubank to be about these days.

Eubank was a star, brought terrific profile to boxing and had a handful of truly great fights.

But he had one of those long, drawn out title reigns where you don't know if he's good, great, average or whatever; he had a padded title run, he had an undisciplined style of boxing, many fights saw him simply go walkabout before leaping in totally off balance with lead right hands; he got a number of fortunate decisions in fights where he did bugger all; he never seemed to have good stamina because IMO he always fought at a weight or 2 too small.

There was good and bad with Eubank but given reactions to many of Calzaghe's lesser title defences I reckon many of us wouldn't really have the patience for a Eubank style string of WBO title defences.

Eubank deserves his place in British boxing history, but enough is enough.

[alexpaterson]

A ring legend Eubank was a great fighter and a great warrior one of the finest fighters this country has ever produced and was so funny he loved the boo's

[ArtOfWar]

I don't think many of us would wish Eubank to be about these days.

Eubank was a star, brought terrific profile to boxing and had a handful of truly great fights.

But he had one of those long, drawn out title reigns where you don't know if he's good, great, average or whatever; he had a padded title run, he had an undisciplined style of boxing, many fights saw him simply go walkabout before leaping in totally off balance with lead right hands; he got a number of fortunate decisions in fights where he did bugger all; he never seemed to have good stamina because IMO he always fought at a weight or 2 too small.

There was good and bad with Eubank but given reactions to many of Calzaghe's lesser title defences I reckon many of us wouldn't really have the patience for a Eubank style string of WBO title defences.

Eubank deserves his place in British boxing history, but enough is enough.

Exactly. We'd be pulling our hair out if Eubank were around today.

[DavidPayne]

Who was the guy in the second fight, white with a tache. Fkk me he could hold a shot.

[bennie]

Who was the guy in the second fight, white with a tache. Fkk me he could hold a shot.

Canada's Les Wisniewski.

[DavidPayne]

Thanks Bennie, he took some mammoth shots, and somehow stayed upright. Was he a known tough guy?

[bennie]

Thanks Bennie, he took some mammoth shots, and somehow stayed upright. Was he a known tough guy?

All white Canadians are tough. Think of Yvon Durelle and you've got the mould.

[WildWaylon]

I watched the whole of Eubanks fabulous career starting with his fights on Eurosport. You could tell even then that he would rise through the ranks and would mix it with the best. His ring entrance, his unusual style of boxing and his arrogant personality made him an exciting fighter to follow rather like Naz. They were great days for boxing.

[bennie]

I didn't like it when he did nothing and still retained. He was like the aging Ali for several fights. He only had to stand up to win.

[coghaugen11]

He had plenty more off nights than good ones, I agree his greatest victorys were against Benn & Watson in 1990 & 1991 after that he clearly lost to Malinga, Close, Benn II, Schommer.

Yet seemed to get the nod every time due to his huge world tour deal with sky.

In my opinion Benn advanced after the Eubank defeat, Eubank regressed.

I think he clearly beat Malinga, in difficult circumstances with what happened the fight before.

He stunk out Portugal against Ron Essett, but let's not forget that was his third fight in four months and he was coming off killing a man on top of paralysing another man. Against Rocchigiani in Germany he was magnificent. Against Henry W he made up for the previous four fights.

I agree he regressed after Benn I (other than flashes early in Watson I). The young Eubank who fought Cronin was up there with the Ali who fought Williams and Naz who fought Belcastro, IMO.

Johnny Melfah didn't get punched over against Benn (ABA final), Graham, Collins or Milo and Eubank flattened him, shattering his jaw in the process and concussing him for a week.

He looked really good against Cronin, Corti, Logan, Melfah, Milo, Randy Smith, and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jklzql4MPPg and he was about 21-22.

You both raise some interesting points, although (just to be rather too fastidious) I seem to recall that Eubank stunk the joint out against the cute Randy Smith, while Benn did stop Melfah in the 1986 ABA middleweight finals and was on the verge of putting him down when the ref rescued Johnny. Melfah was reeling all over the ring.
Coincidentally, another good amateur middleweight, Brian Schumacher, licked Henry Maske in the unpaid ranks.

Denys Cronin and Henry Wharton won the ABA's and went to Eastern Europe, knocking them all out with their left hooks.

Shame Cronin wasn't managed, trained and promoted properly as a pro. He had dangerous left hooks and could close space well.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I didn't like it when he did nothing and still retained. He was like the aging Ali for several fights. He only had to stand up to win.

Agreed, but I think his fights with Watson, Benn and Thompson gave us the mark of the man. He could be terribly frustrating, but he also was as tough as hobnail boots when push came to shove.

[Autobarn]

I didn't like it when he did nothing and still retained. He was like the aging Ali for several fights. He only had to stand up to win.

definitely. it would have been good if the decision had gone against him in one of those poor performances - early on, as well. a bloody wake up call. we might have seen changes, and more discipline to his boxing.

[bennie]

Wharton failed to win the ABAs. He reached the final at Wembley in 1989 and was doing OK against Gloucester's Seymour Johnson in a 'feeling out' first round but southpaw Johnson gave him a glare at the bell and Wharton retaliated with a nothing shot to the chest. The referee waited for the start of round two and then disqualified Wharton in the middle of the ring. Welcome to the pros, Henry.
Eubank later used Cronin as a sparring partner (after their fight) but Cronin eventually suffered eye damage.

[Jon Saxon]

Rememebr the "treat in the heat" against Ron Esset?
Boxing news called it "the bore by the shore"

Do miss Eubank though.

[bennie]

Rememebr the "treat in the heat" against Ron Esset?
Boxing news called it "the bore by the shore"

Do miss Eubank though.

Aye, in the days when Boxing News used professional headline writers. I must admit, Jon, I was never a fan of Eubank. His brother Peter was the first man to beat Barry McGuigan, so the ability was in the blood. Chris had bottle, a great chin, great movement and a big right but his left hook was as 'slappy' as Ronnie Davies, which bugged me (and bugged a lot of people about Joe Calzaghe later). Nor did he try his hand in the States (like Benn) where they like all that showmanship crap. I suppose when you're on a million quid a fight from Sky you don't need to travel.

[Jon Saxon]

Agreed, I think he chose the easy option.

I just wish he fought some top yanks.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

I don't think many of us would wish Eubank to be about these days.

Eubank was a star, brought terrific profile to boxing and had a handful of truly great fights.

I stopped reading there, as i knew your "justification" would just make me angry..

[Autobarn]

I don't think many of us would wish Eubank to be about these days.

Eubank was a star, brought terrific profile to boxing and had a handful of truly great fights.

I stopped reading there, as i knew your "justification" would just make me angry..

haha

but some of those title defences were not great to watch, and were strange, inconclusive viewing

i'd have eubank around today, if he was fighting a good aggressive fighter every time, who'd make him fight

at least i know you're not Eubank - you haven't said I'm "being unreasonable" or "preposterous".

[coghaugen11]

I would have loved to have seen Eubank fight in the states......

and to have stepped up in class and fought a Hopkins, Jones or Toney.

He did dipshit and moved to the UK because he wasn't good enough to cut it with the best the yanks had to offer.

One of the most overrated fighters this country has ever had.

Eubank's mentor was ill in the period 86-87 and he was looking for a manager he could trust. The guy he found was a guy called Keith Miles in Brighton, who offered him £700-a-fight in small halls and a flat.

His mentor Adonis Torres warned Chris away from 'skulldugger managers' when he was dying, and to find a man he could trust rather than a name promoter.

Eubank had a brief amateur career in New York City in his teens, winning the Spanish Gloves and going live on ABC Wide World of Sports in the Daily News Golden Gloves semis.

A now-known tough guy he fought in his fourth fight was Philly's Eric Holland, who gave him a rough ride.

One of Eubank's early trainers was the mentor of Alex 'Bronx Bomber' Ramos, Luis Camacho.

The best Yank-based fighters at the time were guys like Mike McCallum and Julian Jackson, and Eubank called for them both in early 1990.

[bennie]

The upshot is Eubank fought too many times as champ. He never allowed his body to recuperate after some wars. That's why he struggled in some fights as champ.

[Autobarn]

i can believe that.

but didn't fighting often help with the weight making?

[Counter-puncher]

i can believe that.

but didn't fighting often help with the weight making?

i often thought it was the reason- along with the ££££- for him taking such a busy schedule.

[coghaugen11]

He had plenty more off nights than good ones, I agree his greatest victorys were against Benn & Watson in 1990 & 1991 after that he clearly lost to Malinga, Close, Benn II, Schommer.

Yet seemed to get the nod every time due to his huge world tour deal with sky.

In my opinion Benn advanced after the Eubank defeat, Eubank regressed.

I think he clearly beat Malinga, in difficult circumstances with what happened the fight before.

He stunk out Portugal against Ron Essett, but let's not forget that was his third fight in four months and he was coming off killing a man on top of paralysing another man. Against Rocchigiani in Germany he was magnificent. Against Henry W he made up for the previous four fights.

I agree he regressed after Benn I (other than flashes early in Watson I). The young Eubank who fought Cronin was up there with the Ali who fought Williams and Naz who fought Belcastro, IMO.

Johnny Melfah didn't get punched over against Benn (ABA final), Graham, Collins or Milo and Eubank flattened him, shattering his jaw in the process and concussing him for a week.

He looked really good against Cronin, Corti, Logan, Melfah, Milo, Randy Smith, and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jklzql4MPPg and he was about 21-22.

I seem to recall that Eubank stunk the joint out against the cute Randy Smith

That was against Franki Moro. Against Randy Smith he threw a lot of punches, kept his shoulders rolling, kept the pressure on and showed a lot of moves.

[Autobarn]

eubank could teach today's fighters a bit about having an interesting ring persona. many of them are somewhat lacking.

[Greg Nicholas]

He fought 25 bouts in 89-92(his prime), incred.. Chris believed in regularity to stay sharp.. He also believed in hard sparring nd focusing on soaking punches w/out flinching so opponents wuldnt no what punches hurt nd didnt..