BoxRec

Crease wrote:Eubank speaks of it in this video; (fast forward until 3:00)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBw_q1rCa40)

And here is a transcript of his answer to this question:

Johnny Nelson:
"Chris, you and Nigel Benn broke records of filling outdoor stadiums, did you ever think that you could do that again with anybody else? When you carried on boxing, after you boxed Nigel Benn did you think there;s a fight out there that I can do this with - like your Roy's, like your James Toneys"?

Chris Eubank:
"I was never geared that way, I mean. And possibly I was spoiled by the fact that Nigel, Michael and I seemed to be a world unto our own. So I didn't have to go chasing. You know, I had no ego for, you know, to fight James Toney, to fight Roy Jones - this was a kind of suicide. I mean these men."

(then directing his comments to Roy Jones Jr)
"I mean, when we met when Naseem was fighting April 2001. I actually said to you; you know -
"Did you actually say that the only person that you think would give you trouble as Chris Eubank""?

(then talking to the the group in general)
"He said "Yeah". I said "You know what, if that fight would had ever happened - we both would have been hurt. Because I would have had to go to war with you to win. Can't beat guys like this. I mean, in his time - all respect to Joe - in his time, you know - it's suicide. Same with Toney - suicide. And I was never focused that way. For me, it was never about being the best. I was happy being one of the best. That was my truth. Why would I want to fight a man like Roy Jones in his prime"?

Thoughts?

That sounds a very honest appraisal; Eubank Snr is a very strange character - he can speak honestly and without ego and then in the next breath say something completely bizarre.

I loved how Collins did a complete about-face on the WBO, after calling them the wicked body odour organisation, he goes onto hold not one, but two of their titles. Obviously quite clear which side his bread was buttered once he realised the score.

Joe Calzaghe said in a 1995 Boxing Monthly interview that he would never box for a WBO title. "That's too easy". He went on to recite the recognised world titles and a series of dangerous men like Julian Jackson, James Toney et al he was going to chase. Once he boxed a past-it Eubank in what he still calls his toughest fight, he opted to stay in Wales and go down a familiar career path.

The WBO ruined British boxing in so many ways, creating an absurd number of world champions, a long series of unedifying fights that were an extremely poor and off putting advertisement for 'world championship boxing', and set the formula for the future. Fake champions, handpicked challengers, skirt danger and mug the public.

Crease wrote:

stevedoc wrote:Eubanks always said he was in it for the money so why travel to america to make less money than he did in England ,
He said he never fancied fighting Michel Nunn

It's interesting that you've brought up Nunn, when Chris himself hasn't.

I just find some of his comments very curious. The fact that he openly admits that he never sought a fight against Jones Jr or Toney and did not want to test himself against the other top fighter's of his day.

That's pretty strange... Especially for someone who will undoubtedly be ranked as one of the all-time best fighters of his weight class.

I just remember eubanks saying at the time he wanted nothing to do with a six foot southpaw meaning Nunn also herol Graham was mentioned as a fighter he didn't fancy boxing

Crease wrote:

stevedoc wrote:Eubanks always said he was in it for the money so why travel to america to make less money than he did in England ,
He said he never fancied fighting Michel Nunn

It's interesting that you've brought up Nunn, when Chris himself hasn't.

I just find some of his comments very curious. The fact that he openly admits that he never sought a fight against Jones Jr or Toney and did not want to test himself against the other top fighter's of his day.

That's pretty strange... Especially for someone who will undoubtedly be ranked as one of the all-time best fighters of his weight class.

I just remember eubanks saying at the time he wanted nothing to do with a six foot southpaw meaning Nunn also herol Graham was mentioned as a fighter he didn't fancy boxing

Jones was on a different level altogether and if anyone hasn't seen Toney v Barkley then they should and they would know why Eubank wanted no part.

Because he didn't need to.

Tuan_Jim wrote:Joe Calzaghe said in a 1995 Boxing Monthly interview that he would never box for a WBO title. "That's too easy". He went on to recite the recognised world titles and a series of dangerous men like Julian Jackson, James Toney et al he was going to chase. Once he boxed a past-it Eubank in what he still calls his toughest fight, he opted to stay in Wales and go down a familiar career path.

The WBO ruined British boxing in so many ways, creating an absurd number of world champions, a long series of unedifying fights that were an extremely poor and off putting advertisement for 'world championship boxing', and set the formula for the future. Fake champions, handpicked challengers, skirt danger and mug the public.

The WBO are a lesser evil than the WBC and the WBA.

And more often than not, tout "lesser" champions.

BoxBuzz wrote:And more often than not, tout "lesser" champions.

Could be worse. They could recognise 'super' and 'regular' champions.

Hairy Arse wrote:Could be worse. They could recognise 'super' and 'regular' champions.

And you'd have to throw "interim Champions" and "Silver Champions" in there as well... It really has got too much...

what about the magic of the "emeritus"? lol


my favorite.....the "fecal box" champ.

Crease wrote:

Tuan_Jim wrote:In England the fighters were more interested in boxing for the newly invented WBO belt

And yet that World Title was in American hands until Nigel Benn traveled over and pummeled Doug DeWitt and Iran Barkley in title fights.

They were very much C and B class Americans albeit in a wonderfully talented and deep pool of talent that era (86-92) had.

Eubanks and Benn during that time were not A class.Benn graduated to that class after beating McClellan.Eubanks never did.

The brits were very talented tough men great entertainers and stadium fillers.but Eubanks on the basis of what he did wasn't A class like hagler,srl,McCallum,hearns,rjj ,toney and Nunn. Benn circa 93-95 I think could have beaten McCallum or Nunn in their peaks. Both Benn and Eubanks avoided nunn and admitted it in boxing news in the early 90s.Eubanks said "he's 6"3 and a southpaw".Benn ducked him before McClellan.they didn't want toney either see the chat show on youtube. Eubanks if he pushed himself could have troubled any of these men but he was a businessman.all his talk 15 years after retirement is just being gracious he'd have fought Jones if he really needed to

Arguably even b level guys of that time (88-92 like kalambay,johnson, Graham and Jackson would have beaten Benn and Eubanks . It just goes to show the kind of opponents who fought for wbo title defenses good but average guys like Blundell holmes,sims,esset and watson