By Olly Campbell: Now the dust has settled slightly following Frank Warren’s “Risky Business” promotion in London last Saturday, social media has gone into something of a meltdown with regards to Chris Eubank Jr and his statement performance against Russia’s Dmitry Chudinov.
In what ended up as 12 one-sided and dominant rounds from the Brighton man, the granite chinned Russian absorbed an horrendous amount of punishment before finally, and belatedly being stopped by Swedish referee Mikael Hook, who in reality is relatively inexperienced at top level and was brought in last minute following a dispute over the appointment of neutral officials.
Since that victory, and capturing what is really a lightly regarded interim version of the WBA 160lb strap, it is important to regain some perspective, not only with regards to Saturday’s victory, but also with regards to Eubank’s standing in a crowded division that is stacked with talent and can be seen as something of a murderers row.
Kazakhstani wrecking machine Gennady Golovkin arguably sits at the head of the middleweight table as WBA super champion. Names like Miguel Cotto (WBC), Andy Lee (WBO), Martin Murray, Peter Quillin, Hassan N’Dam, David Lemieux and if he returns, Sergio Martinez all provide a stellar supporting cast of proven world class opposition to dine out upon for anyone serious enough about attempting to prove himself in the middleweight division.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moxd7U3itXg
And let’s not forget the other 160lb thorn in Eubank Jrs side, Hatfield’s WBO mandatory contender, Billy Joe Saunders. Or the other, WBA regular champion Daniel Jacobs.
Yet before all that it is necessary to rewind just a little bit, to before everybody became quite so aware of Chris Eubank Jr.
After a relatively brief amateur induction to the sport in the United States, Chris Eubank Jr signed with promoter Mick Hennessy and made his professional debut in November 2011 as part of boxing’s terrestrial television return to channel 5 in the UK.
He quickly and stylistically raced to double figures in the win column, however rarely facing anything that could be construed as a real test in all of his first seventeen fights. The team around him, but most notably his father, chose in the main to match him with durable journeyman opponents he could technically and physically impose himself on. Perhaps the most notable name on his record throughout this period is former fringe British title contender Bradley Pryce, whom he faced in his 8th pro outing. Pryce came in to that fight with a record of 33-11.
Very few exceptions to the journeyman mould of opponent exist on the Eubank slate pre-Saunders. One opponent, Robert Swierzbinski, whom he boxed in May of last year was unheralded but had a 13-2 mark up going in. Eubank Jr stopped him in the seventh round, scoring seven knockdowns along the way.
Of course a journeyman type opponent is crucial in the development of a young fighter, and fighters are matched carefully and considerately in the early stages of their career. This is normal. Yet unfortunately for Eubank, there was always going to be the added scrutiny from the fans; not just because of the family name and the legacy of it, but because of his father’s reluctance to himself fully recede from the spotlight in the here and now. His enthusiasm for talking up, and oft exaggerating his son’s abilities only increased the scrutiny, and thanks to Ch5 and then Boxnation, the boxing public has been able to watch the entire journey every step of the way.
There is no doubting that amassing the pre-Saunders record, Eubank looked absolutely sensational each time he boxed. Against his opponents to that point, he had displayed some fantastic strength and power, put on some highlight reel knockouts and imposed himself upon everybody before him. He showed us how to cut off the ring, put a pace on opponents and evidenced just how to break them down. The footwork, the uppercuts, the brutal body shots. The watching boxing public was starting to buy into Chris Eubank Jr.
Well, perhaps not all of them. And here’s where we hit fast forward again……
The hostility with Beijing 2008 Olympic medallist Billy Joe Saunders slowly simmered to a boil, with insults and veiled threats being exchanged via social media between the two. The intensity and clamor for the fight from the fans and trade insiders grew rapidly and steadily. When it could no longer be ignored, Eubank Jr got the chance he longed for to silence his rival and prove himself. This culminated in their much talked about meeting last November on the “Bad Blood” Frank Warren show.
There were two clear cut divides as far as support and opinion went going into that fight.
Those that believed the higher level of experience at both amateur and professional level would tell for Saunders, and those that believed the dominant power and aggression of Eubank would be enough to conquer.
One must bear in mind that stylistically the two fighters are completely different and a fair case could be made for either winning at that time.
Now the record books will forever hold the Saunders fight as a defeat for Eubank. Some of both the hype AND the questions surrounding Jr were dispelled forever by what happened. The slow start. The inability to listen to the valuable advice of veteran trainer Ronnie Davies. The possibility orders existed instructing Davies not to talk?
Eubank Snr himself cat-walking and posturing between the rounds. All were interesting to the spectator.
But what was most telling was how Eubank was comprehensively out boxed by Saunders in the early going, who had he carried a bigger dig at the weight, could have beat Eubank up far more than he did. The potential to do serious damage was there. He’s not as quick, or as heavy handed but Saunders attempted box in the vein of someone like Joe Calzaghe.
The fact remains however that Eubank lost the fight in the eyes of the judges and probably rightly so. A SD is very close indeed, but his inactivity at the start of the fight cost him dearly. Saunders’ methodical, comprehensive work under Jimmy Tibbs’ instruction put valuable rounds in the bag and meant the judges almost certainly made the correct decision. This is despite the comeback launched by Jr that made the close rounds far harder to call.
So enter into Saturday and the challenge for Dmitry Chudinov’s interim 160lb WBA strap. Its fair to say that given the WBA’s oft ridiculed system of installing interim, regular and super champions, paying heed to the title name was irrelevant.
What was relevant was analyzing Chudinov’s record leading into this contest. I’ve documented previously that the only thing I found impressive was the heavy metal he uses as his ring walk music. That, and the Harley Davidson he rode in on when he fought Denmark’s Patrick Nielsen. Aside from that there wasn’t much to be impressed by. He boxed limited Brit Patrick Mendy to a draw over 8 rounds, and Mendy isnt even a British title level fighter being fair.
Chudinov’s only other fight in Britain was against a guy with 25 losses. His scrappy, come forward style was made for Eubank but nobody could bank on how durable he would show himself to be. Calls of him being “no mug” by many on social media fan groups beforehand were justified to an extent albeit ill informed. Nothing going into the fight credibly justified this claim in all honesty.
However Chudinov showed a spirit that a British referee, denied going in, may have stopped far sooner on grounds of safety. Cut and battered, a more compassionate corner should also have pulled Dmitry out. However, Hook finally saw sense in the last round and Eubank got his stoppage. Hopefully in a few years we wont see Chudinov talking how ex warriors like Meldrick Taylor do these days.
Immediately after the fight reference was made to a rematch with WBO mandatory Billy Joe Saunders. Its highly unlikely Saunders will see any worth in fighting a man he has already beat when he is mandatory for a full world title. That’s the business side of boxing coming into play. The fact Eubank has secured a portion of the WBA strap instantly sets him upon a different path to Saunders in any event anyway. Unluckily for him that will lead to regular belt holder Daniel Jacobs, and the man who destroyed the best 160lb fighter in Britain a fortnight ago, GGG, Gennady Golovkin.
So to answer the question of the article. Does Chris Eubank Jr justify his hype and is he truly proven at world level? The short answer is no, not yet, despite Saturdays blistering action packed contest. Chudinov’s interim title will surely be reveled in by Eubank SENIOR but it is not a legitimate world title by any stretch and Eubank Jr knows it.
The best and hardest performance of his career so far came against Billy Joe Saunders. In fairness even to Saunders, he himself is not yet PROVEN at world level but he holds far more of a credible claim to that status than Eubank Jr being WBO mandatory. The fact its Eubank calling for the rematch tells you a lot about his own standing in the 160lb rankings.
It appears to this writer that Eubank made hard work of a game but limited and durable fighter in Chudinov. I believe Chudinov’s sheer heart in the face of a nasty cut played into the fight and should be the memory he takes away. Yet Eubank should have had him out of there earlier really if his status as a 160lb powerhouse is to be believed. He has been ouboxed once before by Saunders and this Chudinov win did nothing to enhance his reputation as an elite contender. The benefit of the doubt I gave him earlier in his career is fading.
PR videos released on social media sparring with Carl Froch and announcing in-ring that he is boxing to represent the family name can only take a fighter so far. Under the big, bright lights it is a different kettle of fish when your name alone doesn’t add a sting to your punches or enhance your performances. Announcing you are boxing at the Mayweather gym as he himself prepares for one of the biggest fights in history only lends scepticism to the true intentions of the son of this British legend in many eyes.
The truth is that despite what his father says, Chris Eubank Jr is in a scintillating division in terms of talent, and the decisions regarding where he next goes in his career need to be taken very carefully indeed. An element of politics will inevitably come into play into what his next move will be but one can guarantee that at this stage, all options are open.
It is indeed true that Eubank’s father has in the past made statements to the effect that his son could beat GGG and it should be evident given Martin Murray’s heroic performance in Monaco recently just how ludicrous that statement is. I’ll let you draw your own conclusion as to what to make of this.
The 160lb division at top level is there before your eyes. The champ sits at the head of the table. The scalps to be claimed are all sitting around it. With WBO and IBF 160lb titles being contested soon, one can make their own decision as to where Chris Eubank Jr sits on murderers row. Make your own decision. And sentence him to death or give him a reprieve.
Just where do you rank Jr in a stacked 160lb world scene???
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