I imagine this may go down the tumbleweed route – maybe with a ‘why would civilised people watch young men whaling the tar out of each other?’ side order – but there was an intriguing match-up last night, in which George Groves, quietly but confidently spoken, a master of self-regulation in press conferences when others talk trash (not that he was always like this…), schooled, as they say, Chris Eubank Jr. Eubank Jr and Sr made a big thing of the young man not being trainable, i.e. he’s a force of nature, 100 instagram friendly punches in 20 seconds, and knows what he’s doing, but this came unstuck against Groves, who has the necessary constellation around him – Shane McGuigan the trainer, a physio, a nutritionist, training buddies. It struck me that Eubank Jr is a little like Spoilt Bastard, the Viz character, who simply won’t be told and is indulged and told he’s Charlie Big Potatoes. For all Eubank Sr’s talk of instilling The Warrior Code in his son, last night demonstrated that we need people alongside us along the way. And/or maybe Jr just isn’t that good anyway – Groves wasn’t great – he didn’t have to be.
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Barry Blue says
Whoooooossssh
The sound of Eubank jr punching air. And this post
Fintinlimbim says
Chris Eubank. One of the finest boxers this country has ever produced. Then he blows his fortune by not paying his taxes and squandering his money on monocles, preposterous clothes and articulated lorries. And he spouts absolute rubbish and tries to sound as though he has the wisdom of Solomon. If Eubank Jr had half an ounce of sense he wouldn’t allow his dad within a mile of his corner.
Not that he listens to anybody anyway.
Gary says
I know nothing about boxing and haven’t watched any of it since Mike Tyson’s day, but I will say this: that Anthony Joshua chappie always comes across as awfully nice and affable in interviews. I like him.
Paul Wad says
He certainly comes across well in his interviews, although he does sometimes let it slip every now and again, when the microphone is shoved under his nose when the fight has just ended and in the build up to fights. It doesn’t sound like he was particularly nice in his youth. Good to see how he has turned his life round though.
Dave Ross says
Eubank Jr is a decent standard domestic fighter. Groves a very good world level fighter the result was inevitable. As said up there his father really doesn’t help. Search for Naseem Hameds assessment of the junior Eubank it’s brilliantly damning
Barry Blue says
Naz and Eubank Sr’s run-ins over the years have been amusing. I was ringside at Eubank vs Calzaghe and midway through the fight, with Eubank on the ropes, Naz shouts from the crowd, ‘you’re an old man, Eubanks!’ and Eubank calls back ‘shut up Naseem!’ Ironically, Naz blew it by leaving Brendan Ingle and believing he could do it all himself, and now Eubank Jr’s being found out for reckoning he needs no proper coaching etc.
Paul Wad says
I only tuned in from round 6, as I refused to pay the £17 to watch it and only found out it was being screened live on youtube in the States halfway through. What I saw was a terrible fight. Eubank showed none of the discipline of his father and was flailing around like an octopus falling out of a tree. It seemed to be following a 20 second rotational pattern. Groves jabs Eubank a couple of times, Eubank flails around, eventually catching Groves with an ineffective blow, Groves then grabs Eubank by one of his arms and gives him a couple of little digs, Eubank misses wildly with a few uppercuts, referee calls break. And repeat. A really messy fight.
At no point did Eubank step back and try to aim any of his shots. But if the last round had gone on for another minute one of them would have hit the floor. They both seemed buggered and there to be taken out. Funny though, watching that fight and Groves’ performance bearing in mind where DeGale is now. I think DeGale would now beat him with some ease.
Barry Blue says
I think DeGale is a spent force now. The draw with Badou Jack and the loss to Truax, along with getting his teeth knocked out and shoulder kyboshed, are going to be tough to come back from. His career has been poorly managed, too. One possible scenario would be getting BJ Saunders up to super middleweight, and then having a battle of britain tournament with maybe Zach Parker getting involved. It’ll never happen, mind.
Martin S says
We had the evening free and fell for the £17 fee. Total rip off. Eubank is absolutely not of the calibre to be headlining a pay per view fight. The fight was completely mis sold as a genuine contest. More fool me!
Moose the Mooche says
All brute force and ignorance…