Boxing
Nick Parkinson 6y

'Upset' Chris Eubank Jr. needs to make wholesale changes after George Groves defeat

Boxing

Some will argue that Chris Eubank Jr.'s sizeable ego can handle the criticism flying his way after losing to George Groves.

But Eubank Jr. was upset and struggling to contain his emotions when his father -- former world champion Chris Sr. -- bluntly told a press conference his son simply "didn't perform".

Eubank Jr. failed to threaten Groves in a display lacking tactics and boxing IQ on Saturday. Groves' superior skills reduced Eubank to wild swings after failing to impose his jab and shorten the distance between them.

WBA world super-middleweight champion Groves (28-3, 20 KOs) ran out an impressive 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 unanimous winner to progress to the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) final. Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs), 28, is left facing some important decisions to try and revive his career.

A second professional defeat in his first world title attempt brings into question Eubank Jr.'s professional relationship with his father, his continued reluctance to rely on a trainer before and during fights for instruction and whether he should return to middleweight.

Like Senior, Junior has immense self-belief which explains why he has so far opted to train himself and even wrap his own hands before fights, as he did before challenging his English rival Groves.

Senior and veteran trainer Ronnie Davies were in Junior's corner at the Manchester Arena. But it was Junior who was in charge of his training and there was then no coherent guidance on fight night against Groves.

Junior trains himself, concentrating on fitness and power. A full-time trainer, who would offer guidance on tactics, technique and boxing ability, should now be top of Eubank Jr's priority list.

"In boxing, when you get a cut or get hit you need a corner that is giving you clear instructions," said Groves' promoter Kalle Sauerland, who is also co-founder of the WBSS. "Junior has said he didn't know what he was doing because he had blood in his eye but if you had a strong corner, you will have the right advice even when you are panicking with your eye closed. That's a big difference.

"George's success was that he followed a plan to beat him, that was the difference."

Kell Brook, James DeGale, Tony Bellew, Darren Barker and Naseem Hamed were among those who had more stinging words for Eubank.

Former world featherweight champion Hamed even said Eubank Jr. should retire because he was not good enough for the top level.

Bellew, the former WBC world cruiserweight champion and now a heavyweight, has urged Eubank Jr. to make a fresh start. "It was clear that Eubank was getting no advice in the corner," said Bellew. "I don't see Eubank progressing unless he changes things up dramatically. He also needs to go back down to middleweight because he lacks power at super-middleweight."

However, there are more opportunities for Eubank Jr. at super-middleweight, where there are four world titleholders.

Eubank only stepped up a division a year ago after turning down offers to fight Gennady Golovkin and Billy Joe Saunders, who Eubank lost to on points to in 2014. Golovkin and Saunders hold all the middleweight titles between them and Eubank is unlikely to get a title shot this year if he drops down a division.

Neither knockout machine Golovkin or Saunders, who produced his best performance yet in his last fight, are attractive options for Eubank right now.

Before Eubank Jr. can start thinking about a route back to title contention, he will consider how he trains and maybe also his father's role in his career.

As well as Eubank Jr. making a call on whether to move his dad away from his preparations and from the corner on fight night, Eubank Sr. will have to accept he needs to let his son get on with his own career and on his own terms.

If Senior, world middleweight and super-middleweight champion in the 1990s, did not have such a big presence it may also ease some pressure on Junior.

After telling the world about Eubank Jr.'s ability and potential to be one of the best boxers in the world, including saying he would beat Golovkin, Saturday was also a dose of cold reality for Eubank Sr..

Eubank Sr. talked pre-fight about the concern he had for the damage his son would inflict on Groves. After the humbling experience, Eubank Sr. was honest in his post-fight assessment and perhaps now realises changes are necessary if his son is to follow in his footsteps to become a world champion.

"Maybe he will have a chance in attitude," said Groves. "Junior is better off going to the other side of the world away from his dad and have a fresh start.

"He's going to have a tough phase now because he dreamt about all these things he was going to have. "People will quickly forget about you, let's see if he can cope with that. Even the most resilient people struggle with that."

^ Back to Top ^