By Matthias Predonzan: Chris Eubank Jr. put together a really great performance against the Russian fighter Dmitry Chudinov at the O2 Arena in Greenwich. A performance that is now definitely moving Eubank Jr. at the top of the WBA middleweight ranking.
The fight was very intense, with Chudinov not able to adjust to Eubank Jr’s great boxing ability but opposing to him just a great pressure and an indomitable courage.
Eubank Jr. started the fight boxing well on the outside, using his jab and clinching Chudinov, at necessity, for the first 5 rounds.
Eubank Jr. was criticized for his alleged excess of clinching, as, for instance, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Andre Ward often are.
Clinching is a defensive technique, not contemplated by boxing rules, this is true but as a fact, very rarely points are deducted for its use, unless it is made in a theatrical manner and from a boxer that is not bringing anything else on the table. But there is another important point to consider.
If, as it is sometimes argued, it were enough to clinch in order to not get beaten up from a stronger, more aggressive fighter, how is that, for example, no one of the contenders of Gennady “GGG” Golovkin used this skill to not get KO by him?
Simple, because they couldn’t. Because they were not good enough to master this technique or, in other words, GGG was too good to prevent them to do it.
It’s a matter of fighting style and boxing IQ. The best prevails and again, I understand that some fans don’t like to see smart fighters but only all-forward fighters.
Some fans are just the opposite, they like smart boxers and find quite depressing to see a fighter get destroyed because his pride or lack of skill are overwhelming.
Back to our fight, after the 5th round Eubank Jr. literally dominated the fight with brilliant flurries of 6, 8, 10 punches, mixing well combinations to the head and body of Chudinov.
The 6th and 7th rounds were particularly brutal and the 7th was possibly won by Eubank Jr. by 10 to 8 with the crowd showing soundly his appreciation.
Chudinov had a better round in the 10th but then Eubank Jr. was over him again on the 11th and finally the referee had no other choice than to stop the fight in the 12th.
I agree with Barry Jones, a bit late.
Again, this point is arguable but logic and common sense should prevail. It’s true that Chudinov was not defenseless and wobbling but he was been hit by a big number of punches, in the 12th round, and not having showed any real possibility to turn the fight in his favor. Therefore, why to risk further his physical integrity? Why?
Really impressive Eubank Jr.
Great ring generalship and fundamentals, beautiful footwork, amazing athleticism.
His defense was notable at times but he took a lot of right hands. Having a great chin this was not a problem but in my opinion, he should take a better advantage of his natural talents and avoid being hit that much.
As his father was suggesting, he should reduce the number of punches he throws in his flurries and get back out of range, instead to stay too long in the pocket.
I do not see too many fighters around with Chris Eubank Jr. qualities. He has all needed to become a future star of boxing but he needs to work on his defense, head movement and timing and in my opinion, to fight more on the outside, fight more smart, using his quick jab and long reach, especially in the perspective of fighting somebody like GGG Golovkin.
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