As a boxing fan I recall the great nights of British boxing on free to air terrestrial television in the 1990’s where legends of the ring like Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, Steve Collins and Barry McGuigan would be fighting in competitive boxing matches on a regular basis.
However one boxing rivalry of the 1990’s that set the British boxing scene on fire was that of the Chris Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn.
In November 1990 Eubank Snr and Benn fought an epic first fight that was deemed as the “Eubank Snr slaughter” because everyone in boxing thought that Benn would out muscle Eubank Snr and triumph in a successful win. Eubank Snr battered Benn to a claim a ninth round victory.
On 29th November 2014 the undefeated son of the legendary Chris Eubank Snr called Chris Eubank Jnr (18-0 13 knockouts) will be taking on the current British and European middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (20-0 11 knockouts).
The Eubank Jnr and Saunders boxing bout has reignited my interest in British boxing rivalries and reminded me of the classic first fight between Eubank Snr and Benn where the similarities between the fights is shocking with Eubank Jnr expected to lose.
Eubank Jnr is the current brightest up and coming boxing stars and his confident, arrogant but cool, calm and calculated demeanour in the ring draws comparisons to his father (Chris Eubank Snr).
I am one of the very few people to suggest that Eubank Jnr to win against Saunders because of the way Eubank Jnr has been introduced into the brutal sport of boxing by his father.
Eubank Jnr was at a very young age taken to America by his father where he learned boxing the hard way and in the rough and talented gyms, against sparring partners that were often more skilled, senior and heavier than him. His father claims that the hard times in the American boxing gyms was a test for Eubank Jnr to see if he what it takes to be a champion.
The hard times for Eubank Jnr has certainly paid dividends as he has emerged as one of the hottest prospects of British boxing and according to his father a future hall of famer.
I am in no way suggesting the Saunders fight for Eubank Jnr will be an easy affair since Saunders himself has a brilliant amateur boxing record prior to turning professional and has won against some talented British fighters. Saunders is currently training hard in Marbella and his coach is the legendary Jimmy Tibbs who has previously trained some very successful boxers like Benn, Lloyd Honeyghan, Michael Watson and Frank Bruno.
The winner of the Eubank Jnr and Saunders bout will get to chance to fight for a WBO world middleweight title.
Eubank Jnr in my opinion is the “surprise package” and I expect the talented boxer to make a huge impact on the sport of boxing.
