Billy Joe Saunders vrs Chris Eubank Jnr. Who will win?

[expe]

Has everyone seen Eubank Jnr vs Carruthers?

I think Eubank Jnr scraped it by a round but it was very even and a draw would have had very few people upset.

After that fight they significantly dropped the level of opponent for Eubank to fat Latvian cabbies fighting a weight division higher than usual. He of course started to look sensational.

BJS is leagues above Carruthers. I see a one sided win for BJS on PTS.

It was only his 5th fight to be fair and then he did fight Bradley Pryce a few fights later and won every round and he has also beaten Frankie Borg although they are not household names they are better than Carruthers.

The scorecard for the Pryce fight was shocking, that was another close fight, 80-73 didn't do Bradley justice at all, Jason Ball was another that gave him trouble. Borg was a good win, probably his best so far, but as you look at his record and fights, a pattern starts to emerge, when put in with domestic opposition and journeymen, he's struggled and hasn't really impressed, then when they've brought in the Latvian binmen, he's looked fantastic and a big puncher. To me that's no coincidence.

[crusader]

That's the problem with assessing Eubank for me. Fighters often improve with experience so I can see why people assume that his recent destruction are reflective of improvement, but those fights also coincide with a notable drop in his opposition; the recent names he's beaten are fairly poor, seem to lack durability, and have lost handily every time they've fought someone I'd consider at least decent.

I think there are many fighters in the division who would blow through his recent string of opponents in similar fashion.

[lefty]

That's the problem with assessing Eubank for me. Fighters often improve with experience so I can see why people assume that his recent destruction are reflective of improvement, but those fights also coincide with a notable drop in his opposition; the recent names he's beaten are fairly poor, seem to lack durability, and have lost handily every time they've fought someone I'd consider at least decent.

I think there are many fighters in the division who would blow through his recent string of opponents in similar fashion.

When I personally look at Eubank Jnr- I dont gauge him by how he looks against these guys who are clearly crap to be frank. I more look at it by his speed and so on. I'm almost convinced he's quicker than Saunders is and whilst I dont he hits as hard as these recent fights have made him look, I do have a feeling he hits harder than Saunders does.

[crusader]

Do you think he was faster and harder punching than BJS when he was fighting people like Carruthers and Pryce?

[expe]

That's the problem with assessing Eubank for me. Fighters often improve with experience so I can see why people assume that his recent destruction are reflective of improvement, but those fights also coincide with a notable drop in his opposition; the recent names he's beaten are fairly poor, seem to lack durability, and have lost handily every time they've fought someone I'd consider at least decent.

I think there are many fighters in the division who would blow through his recent string of opponents in similar fashion.

When I personally look at Eubank Jnr- I dont gauge him by how he looks against these guys who are clearly crap to be frank. I more look at it by his speed and so on. I'm almost convinced he's quicker than Saunders is and whilst I dont he hits as hard as these recent fights have made him look, I do have a feeling he hits harder than Saunders does.

I think he has similar hand speed to Saunders, maybe a little slower for me, but Saunders' feet are a lot quicker than his and that will tell IMO. I don't think he hits harder either, when Saunders was given similar opposition early in his career he blew through them too, when Billy Joe punches through the target properly, which he doesn't do at times, he carries more than enough power and crucially, doesn't need to load up to get it like Eubank does, it's easy for him to turn his hips and shoulders in to the punches against his current opposition, because the target doesn't move and there's no threat of anything coming back, against Saunders he won't be able to do that.

[lefty]

To be honest it is pretty hard to gauge Eubank jr because of the level of opposition upto now. The fight with Saunders will answer a lot of questions for sure.

[rm1]

[quote="lefty

When I personally look at Eubank Jnr- I dont gauge him by how he looks against these guys who are clearly crap to be frank. I more look at it by his speed and so on. I'm almost convinced he's quicker than Saunders is and whilst I dont he hits as hard as these recent fights have made him look, I do have a feeling he hits harder than Saunders does.[/quote]

This is exactly how I feel about JR. I am also a big fan of the tricky, slick Saunders but I find it difficult to believe the Eubank team would put him in with Saunders if he wasn't ready-what would be the point of that he would be better taking a slower and easier route up the rankings surely?

[SMALL AXE1]

One is Special. One is Average.

[crusader]

[quote="lefty

When I personally look at Eubank Jnr- I dont gauge him by how he looks against these guys who are clearly crap to be frank. I more look at it by his speed and so on. I'm almost convinced he's quicker than Saunders is and whilst I dont he hits as hard as these recent fights have made him look, I do have a feeling he hits harder than Saunders does.

This is exactly how I feel about JR. I am also a big fan of the tricky, slick Saunders but I find it difficult to believe the Eubank team would put him in with Saunders if he wasn't ready-what would be the point of that he would be better taking a slower and easier route up the rankings surely?

If Eubank's team are so confident in him why such weak opposition over his last several bouts? Wouldn't Jr. impress more if he were defeating significantly better opponents, something he should be capable of if he's able to best Saunders?

[palooka]

I thought that Saunders would have beaten the men he has in sharper fashion given his amateur success; he does not seem to have improved all that much. A couple of his bouts have been very close.

I'm not at all sure who will win the bout but I imagine both are taking the other seriously; I think Saunders has the edge in speed but Eubank the stronger punch.

It'll be a good bout.

[SamWise72]

I think we're going to see Eubank step it up and win a competitive but comfortable victory. I don't think Billy has looked impressive for a while, and I think that team Eubank know they've got stuff in the bank. If it's a real test, I think Eubank's inherited will to win will shine through, but I wouldn't be entirely shocked if he got a stoppage.

I'm far from certain about this result, but I feel reasonably confident, and I can't wait. Haven't been this excited about a domestic fight for a while.

[tedley]

Boxing wise I think Saunders will win but if the two nobs knocked each other out........praise to the Lord ! oh Lord we must pray!

[freddydoesdallas]

I have to say that I can't understand why so many people are picking on Eubank Jnr to win this one. I thought this would be looked at impartially by most based on the records that the fighters have as i wouldn't class either boxer as having a big following but it doesn't seem to be going that way.

The cold facts for me are BJS is the European champion who has taken on challenges and stepped it up progressively to get to this level. There have been no real contentious decisions and he's deserved all of the honours/belts he's got.

Eubank Jnr has done really well to get so much coverage, obviously the old man being prominent helps. Inside the ring, he's flattered to deceive. As others have said, his toughest domestic challenges have been English title level and he struggled with them. Line him up with someone coming to lose and he looks great, line him up with someone that makes him fight every minute of every round and he struggles to keep the pace.

From a betting point of view, there is nothing out there that would tempt me into backing Eubank Jnr unless he was 3/1 or bigger. BJS at around 4/6 is a very generous price for me

[THEBUTCH]

BJS for me. The element of the unknown leaves us guessing about Eubank Jnr, but BJS has proved he can win whatever obstacles are put in his way.

The fight has the potential to be a fight of the year contender with BJS being so fired up and motivated, but whatever transpires (good fight/bad fight) I see BJS coming through.

[bigjack]

Eubank,inside the distance.

[Mimmy]

Do y'all think if Jr gets beat its the end of the road?

[arlovski]

Do y'all think if Jr gets beat its the end of the road?

Shouldn't be, it's a win-win really.
In terms of their career experience and achievements so far, Eubank has no right to even be in this fight, so if loses, even convincingly, he can chalk it down to experience and re-build no problem, even look for a re-match a couple of years down the line when he's more seasoned. He's building even more of a name for himself just by the hype this fight is getting, a fair few of my non-boxing mates have really bought into the match up.

If he pulls it off, it's an amazing win really, again given the experience disparity, and it would rightly put him at (fringe?) world class, with massive opportunities ahead.

It's a gamble, but a calculated one i think, and BJS is the one under pressure, for all the reverse reasons above, by rights he should deal with Eubank comfortably...

[black panther]

The Eubank camp aren't dumb; they must be very confident that Jr has the beating of Saunders. Eubank Jr's drop in competition is woefully apparent however, his technique has improved. Also, regarding his opponents, let's bear in mind he was scheduled to face Kerry Hope (pulled out after loss to Borg) and Jez Wilson (pulled out with broken jaw and second time unknown pullout) so it's not like they are purposely avoiding tough competition. I was highly critical of him earlier in career, particularly the way he didn't get full leverage into his right hand, failing to turn it over and pivot. It was essentially an arm punch. Since then he's improved vastly and his left hand work was always pretty good. He also beat Bradley Pryce over eight in only his eighth bout. That's an impressive result especially considering how little amateur experience he has.

The facts point to a BJS win but I just have a feeling Eubank Jr might just be the real deal. Looking forward to the fight immensely!

[Ricky_]

I'm liking Saunders by Unanimous decision. Eubank looked decent in some heavy going sparring with Froch though in the footage they released in the build up to Groves II, but i've never been impressed with Eubank in actual fights. I feel like he's the kind of guy who's never bothered getting out of 1st gear right enough, so not a fight i'll be gambling on.

[CiganoBoxer]

if Eubank Jnr beat BJS i think it will be a mammoth task , to jump that many levels will be impressive , can't see it tho , BJS will school him i feel ...well i hope so lol

[lefty]

I'm liking Saunders by Unanimous decision. Eubank looked decent in some heavy going sparring with Froch though in the footage they released in the build up to Groves II, but i've never been impressed with Eubank in actual fights. I feel like he's the kind of guy who's never bothered getting out of 1st gear right enough, so not a fight i'll be gambling on.

You're stealing my sparring story lines you swine!!! ;) lol

[Brian Moore]

Chinny Joe Saunders will hand Eubank Jr a boxing lesson before running out of gas and capsizing around the tenth. Say it aint so, Billy Joe.

[crusader]

Chinny Joe Saunders will hand Eubank Jr a boxing lesson before running out of gas and capsizing around the tenth. Say it aint so, Billy Joe.

Why do you think he's chinny?

[Boxerbeetle]

http://www.BS.com/saunders-eub ... tor--83703

It's a WBO title eliminator. The article's ropey, I had to do it on my phone in the local chippy.

FW just tweeted the confirmation. Still has strong ties to the good old WBO then...

[fizzjambo]

Something about this reminds me of a mini (very mini!) version of Calzaghe/Lacy. Obviously at different stages of their careers and operating at a very different level but I just get that feel.

It's a good fight and I'm intrigued to see just how good both guys are, at least how good they are now.