By Daniel Hughes – In a much anticipated fight between UK middleweight prospects,Billy Joe Saunders 21-0 (11 ko’s) defeated Chris Eubank Jr 18-1 (13 ko’s) via split decision.The cards 116-113 Eubank Jr,115-113 and 115-114 for the European champion Saunders testament to the action that had taken place close and arguments after from both sets of supporters and pundits about who had done enough to win.

The key factor for I felt the pacing of the fight by both, Eubank Jr started slowly the opening four rounds for me clearly won by Billy Joe Saunders and probably the 5th also, the cleaner work being set up behind the Saunders jab and following up with some decent combinations.Eubank Jr only started to get a foothold in the contest after the half way mark to me he and his corner judged the pace of the fight incorrectly. Saunders southpaw style certainly kept Eubank Jr from making any impression in the early rounds, Saunders deserves credit for his performance his game plan came to fruition on the night. For Eubank Jr it was his first 12 round contest and looking back I believe he was conscious of trying to leave something in the tank but by doing so it cost him the fight.

Eubank Jr and Saunders are only months apart in age but experience wise a massive gulf, Saunders the Olympic amateur and tested as a professional over the title distance previously drew on his knowledge to do enough to get his hand raised he was in the best shape of his life as a paid fighter and he needed to be. Eubank Jr certainly showed great physical strength and determination after the 6th round to really push Saunders back it was action all the way. Overall, I had Saunders winning 115-113, 7-5 in rounds his ring nous and shot selection over Eubank Jr relentless come forward pressure. To those that thought Eubank Jr won,he simply left himself too much to do in the end over the length of the contest the quality work for me by the unbeaten Saunders.

Eubank Jr will need to learn to mix up his attacks in the future at this level something he can certainly do.He threw wicked uppercuts that would of put quality opposition of a similar standard to Saunders in serious trouble. He came up against a fighter in Saunders that possesses a very good chin as well as a good skill set. Eubank Jr will in future need to switch the point of attack more to the body it will help open up his favoured punch. In Saunders he unfortunately came up against the more slicker fighter that boxes in that typical southpaw style of being difficult to work out. Saunders did this to great effect early on and Eubank Jr caught often coming in to engage Saunders, his frustration lead to mistakes.

The fighters will no doubt meet again somewhere down the line.The UK fighting public will certainly look forward to see them renewing a rivalry that had plenty of build up and proved to be well worth the wait. For the first installment both can come out of the contest with their reputations as middleweight prospects enhanced. For Billy Joe Saunders the deserved plaudits of victory and a WBO title shot for Eubank Jr big fight experience and the proof that he can certainly mix it at high level. Not quite ‘simply the best’ but a work in progress that will come again.