BoxRec

Eubank Sr on Roy Jones, Tyson and Hitman Hearns


By Samuel Lee


The wisdom of one Chris Eubanks Sr shines through again as he discusses AJ-Usyk, his sons new coach, his time in New York and Hagler-Hearns.



Eubank’s indirect Joshua-Usyk prediction:

I remember I was told as a teenager in the South Bronx this; a good big one will always beat a little good one.


On Chris Jr-Roy Jones Jr connection:

It’s a match made in heaven. The truth is I didn’t know Roy was a trainer or he’d of been my first choice for Christopher years ago.


Response to some claiming Roy Jones relied on freakish reflexes so can’t make a great boxing coach:

It’s nonsensical because you first have to actually learn basics before you can add your own moves and style.

If you don’t master the basics first then nothing else comes off because you have no base to work from. It’s why you get many Roy Jones or Naseem Hamed imposters who get nowhere in the game, because they didn’t get the fundamentals down first and simply tried copying a finished product.


Regarding Teddy Atlas and others talking down Mike Tyson as being mentally weak:

Those comments by Atlas regarding Tyson get my back up. I saw Mike Tyson in April 1984 fight Winston Bent, the reigning Golden Gloves champion, when he was still 17.

During an exchange in the second round, Bent jolted Tyson with a right hand to the temple. Tyson punched back with fury. He did not go down. He did not retreat. And in the next round he knocked Bent out. It was a perfect example of what Cus D’Amato meant when he talked about “character” in a fighter.

Yes Mike quit in the second fight with Holyfield. But he proved himself a great fighter by allowing Lennox Lewis a ‘clean kill’, much like Roberto Duran eradicated his relent in the Ray Leonard second fight by allowing Tommy Hearns that ‘clean kill’ on him.

I spoke to Tyson in 1983 at one of my first amateur fights. His favourite fighter, he said, was Rocky Marciano. “He broke their will,” Tyson said with reverence. “He was constantly coming in. But he swayed low, so the punches hit him on the shoulder. He didn’t get hit as much as people think he did. And we have in common fighting guys with longer reach.” Those were his words.

He was big on character and toughness and showed it many times.


One of Eubank’s biggest influences:

The legendary Tommy Hearns showed me how to be great. On March 15th of ‘85 I drew blood from my opponents flesh with my bottom row teeth in front of 17,000 at the Golden Gloves, because I felt he was getting the better of me. Thomas Hearns was actually in attendance.

On April 15th of the same year I watch on television Tommy Hearns and Marvellous Marvin go at it for nearly three rounds, Hagler getting the upper hand but Hearns continuing to stand and fight and go out on his shield, falling forward like an ancient Samurai.

It was told to me a year later by a martial arts guru that a noble Japanese gentleman should die falling forwards. Hearns was the real deal.

Hagler catches him with a right hand of such force that it twists Hearns’ neck and torso and travels right down to his boots; he doesn’t voluntarily turn his back as the commentators claimed. And it leaves him open for the ‘clean kill’.

That inspired me. That’s one reason I won those first Benn and second Watson fights.

[quote=coghaugen11 post_id=5623381 time=1632354911 user_id=15321

The wisdom of one Chris Eubanks Sr shines through again
[/quote]

Tommy was the greatest of those three. Tyson had a low ring iq and was a poor infighter for his size. Aside from the holy rematch, he took his beatings like a man.

Anyone who thinks that Mike Tyson was/is mentally weak is sorely mistaken.
The only shame is that these same people couldn't go in to the ring with a prime Tyson to see how mentally weak he was...

Give the guy some respect, it takes balls to go in to the ring in the first place and even more so to compete at the elite level of the highest division, Heavyweight.

Next up he’ll be arguing that water is wet…

klompton wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 17:07 Next up he’ll be arguing that water is wet…

You’ll be amazed how many people disparage Tyson as a fake. (It’s ludicrous yes)

ON INTERVIEWERS

I was criticised for facing Des O'Connor towards the end of his reign, but my match with Theroux stands as a badge of honour. It was written incorrectly I was bested on They Think It's All Over, because we see now these opponents did not scale the heights I did.

I was accused of being an ITV champion who would not meet Conan in America, but Conan would not travel. And you must remember Mrs Merton was the BBC champion at this time, with pedigree from her wins over Kriss Akabusi and Mr Motivator.


ON PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT

I have seen it, yes, and I did not object to its depiction of, um, showmanship. It took every effort to stop my legs from shaking when I fought Nigel Benn, but I showed no fear of his sequins or tassels. His team wore Castrol jackets to intimidate me and this had no effect. I thrived on this atmosphere of shellsuited crowds wanting to see me hurt.

My Johnny Unitas haircut was a reaction to them — a provocation, to which my fans could set their watches. But I did not wear pink shorts, because pink is not a colour from the warriors' rainbow.


ON THE ABBA REUNION

I do not run on my treadmill; this is my way... Do you understand? Barry McGuigan will only run, and that is his choice. So you see, I would not advise or council him on his musical accomp... accompanyingment.

Tony Hart from Hartbeat marched every day and lived to be 83, and this is my wisdom. I like Don't Shut Me Down. That is a good marching song.

When nobody wanted to face Mark Breland in the opening round of the 1984 NYC golden gloves, 156lb Chris Eubank was asked at short notice to make 147 in just his 11th amateur fight. He WON the first round using his jab, before the ref stopped it with Eubank still on his feet in the second round causing Eubank to have the biggest hissy fit ever at the ref for stopping it.

Johnny Bos and others used to tell the story.

Young fundamentalism

coghaugen11 wrote: ↑22 Sep 2021, 19:55 Eubank Sr on Roy Jones, Tyson and Hitman Hearns


By Samuel Lee


The wisdom of one Chris Eubanks Sr shines through again as he discusses AJ-Usyk, his sons new coach, his time in New York and Hagler-Hearns.



Eubank’s indirect Joshua-Usyk prediction:

I remember I was told as a teenager in the South Bronx this; a good big one will always beat a little good one.


On Chris Jr-Roy Jones Jr connection:

It’s a match made in heaven. The truth is I didn’t know Roy was a trainer or he’d of been my first choice for Christopher years ago.


Response to some claiming Roy Jones relied on freakish reflexes so can’t make a great boxing coach:

It’s nonsensical because you first have to actually learn basics before you can add your own moves and style.

If you don’t master the basics first then nothing else comes off because you have no base to work from. It’s why you get many Roy Jones or Naseem Hamed imposters who get nowhere in the game, because they didn’t get the fundamentals down first and simply tried copying a finished product.


Regarding Teddy Atlas and others talking down Mike Tyson as being mentally weak:

Those comments by Atlas regarding Tyson get my back up. I saw Mike Tyson in April 1984 fight Winston Bent, the reigning Golden Gloves champion, when he was still 17.

During an exchange in the second round, Bent jolted Tyson with a right hand to the temple. Tyson punched back with fury. He did not go down. He did not retreat. And in the next round he knocked Bent out. It was a perfect example of what Cus D’Amato meant when he talked about “character” in a fighter.

Yes Mike quit in the second fight with Holyfield. But he proved himself a great fighter by allowing Lennox Lewis a ‘clean kill’, much like Roberto Duran eradicated his relent in the Ray Leonard second fight by allowing Tommy Hearns that ‘clean kill’ on him.

I spoke to Tyson in 1983 at one of my first amateur fights. His favourite fighter, he said, was Rocky Marciano. “He broke their will,” Tyson said with reverence. “He was constantly coming in. But he swayed low, so the punches hit him on the shoulder. He didn’t get hit as much as people think he did. And we have in common fighting guys with longer reach.” Those were his words.

He was big on character and toughness and showed it many times.


One of Eubank’s biggest influences:

The legendary Tommy Hearns showed me how to be great. On March 15th of ‘85 I drew blood from my opponents flesh with my bottom row teeth in front of 17,000 at the Golden Gloves, because I felt he was getting the better of me. Thomas Hearns was actually in attendance.

On April 15th of the same year I watch on television Tommy Hearns and Marvellous Marvin go at it for nearly three rounds, Hagler getting the upper hand but Hearns continuing to stand and fight and go out on his shield, falling forward like an ancient Samurai.

It was told to me a year later by a martial arts guru that a noble Japanese gentleman should die falling forwards. Hearns was the real deal.

Hagler catches him with a right hand of such force that it twists Hearns’ neck and torso and travels right down to his boots; he doesn’t voluntarily turn his back as the commentators claimed. And it leaves him open for the ‘clean kill’.

That inspired me. That’s one reason I won those first Benn and second Watson fights.

A lot of wisdom here. I highlighted some of the best parts.

Very astute reasoning for picking Joshua to beat Usyk.
Apparently Duran proved his greatness by getting ko'd by Hearns.
Likewise, Hearns proved his greatness by getting ko'd by Hagler.
And of of course, Tyson proved his greatness by getting ko'd by Lewis.

Wow. a very wise man indeed.

They fought to the death. That trumps running around the ring scared like Jones v Toney and Mayweather v Oscar/Pac etc

coghaugen11 wrote: ↑06 Oct 2021, 16:50 They fought to the death. That trumps running around the ring scared like Jones v Toney and Mayweather v Oscar/Pac etc

Duran fought to the death against Hearns. He didn't do much and got knocked out in two rounds. How is this what made Duran great?
Tyson didn't do much better against Lewis. He basically quit after the first round. How is this what made Tyson great?

I understand the point about guys giving it there all in defeat. (And your frustration with guys running away to victory.) However, I just don't how Duran-Hearns and Tyson-Lewis are good examples at all. Neither Duran or Tyson "fought to the death" in those fights.

Well, maybe Eubank and many of us have a soft spot for Mike.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑07 Oct 2021, 10:57

coghaugen11 wrote: ↑06 Oct 2021, 16:50 They fought to the death. That trumps running around the ring scared like Jones v Toney and Mayweather v Oscar/Pac etc

Duran fought to the death against Hearns. He didn't do much and got knocked out in two rounds. How is this what made Duran great?
Tyson didn't do much better against Lewis. He basically quit after the first round. How is this what made Tyson great?

I understand the point about guys giving it there all in defeat. (And your frustration with guys running away to victory.) However, I just don't how Duran-Hearns and Tyson-Lewis are good examples at all. Neither Duran or Tyson "fought to the death" in those fights.

I gained a lot of respect for Mike from the Lewis fight. He stayed in there and took a beating.

Never heard this before this thread. He has always been ripped for this fight. He came out strong for a quick knockout in the first round. After that, he seemed to just give up.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑07 Oct 2021, 13:36 Never heard this before this thread. He has always been ripped for this fight. He came out strong for a quick knockout in the first round. After that, he seemed to just give up.

Read it again. He 'stayed' in there. He took his beating like a man.

He said that it proved Tyson's greatness. "But he proved himself a great fighter by allowing Lennox Lewis a ‘clean kill’"

True, Tyson didn't officially quit. But we have all seen a fighter continue on like this a million times. It is expected. Doesn't mean a fighter is great because of it. Many other guys did the same thing against Lewis. Or against Tyson for that matter. Doesn't make them great.

They weren’t Mike Tyson. When did Tommy Morrison win 10 World title fights in his early 20s?

Tyson proved he had it in him all along to take his licks. He needed that Lewis loss in that manner.

Though he undid it in some ways v McBride!

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑07 Oct 2021, 15:56 He said that it proved Tyson's greatness. "But he proved himself a great fighter by allowing Lennox Lewis a ‘clean kill’"

True, Tyson didn't officially quit. But we have all seen a fighter continue on like this a million times. It is expected. Doesn't mean a fighter is great because of it. Many other guys did the same thing against Lewis. Or against Tyson for that matter. Doesn't make them great.

Maybe what 'he' said, but not what I said. Don't confuse the two posts by the two posters Alp.

However; I do believe Mike was great in his prime.

Sorry, I thought you were agreeing with Eubank Sr. Though to some extent, it does seem that you do.

I thought Tyson was a great fighter. I don't think the fight against Lewis had any part in it though. He did not give his best effort, and got the crap kicked out of him. Don't really think him not quitting was that big of a deal.. 90% of fighters would not have quit in that situation. That fight did not help his legacy.

I must say, I have never heard anyone say anything positive about Tyson's performance in that fight before. Have often heard people say the fight was irrelevant before, and have heard excuses before. But never praise for Tyson for that dreadful performance.

He proved he could take his beating and accept defeat with grace, not quitting + getting knocked out + wiping blood from Lennox’s cheek delicately went a long way when compared with -you know- his behaviour that night in June 97....

coghaugen11 wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 04:18 He proved he could take his beating and accept defeat with grace, not quitting + getting knocked out + wiping blood from Lennox’s cheek delicately went a long way when compared with -you know- his behaviour that night in June 97....

Absolute fruitcake.

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 05:14

coghaugen11 wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 04:18 He proved he could take his beating and accept defeat with grace, not quitting + getting knocked out + wiping blood from Lennox’s cheek delicately went a long way when compared with -you know- his behaviour that night in June 97....

Absolute fruitcake.

Eh?