Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.)

atberry · 12-20-2012, 09:06 PM

Chris Eubank Sr on why/how he beat Nigel Benn and Michael Watson

Misunderstood was one word to describe Chris Eubank in his early prime days. Mistakenly thought of as obscenely arrogant, Eubank was merely proud and focussed, and his body language reflected this in the ring.

Eubank tells me about his tough boxing upbringing and how this helped him overcome top-class British rivals Nigel Benn and Michael Watson in the early nineties.

'To an extent, I mean, I have to say, from my viewpoint, Michael and Nigel had been pampered fighters - pampered. They had extremely wealthy and immensely powerful managers behind them in Mickey Duff and Frank ******, respectively, as well as Bob Arum in America. I had nothing, I just had myself. I had been turned down by the Top Rank, then turned by Duff, (and) turned down by ******.

'I mean, I remember taking on a fight for Duff - who didn't like my independant attitude towards the business - on just a few hours notice because I needed the money, and the opponent had 10-12lbs weight on me. I got £500, and Michael Watson, who's fight was the one after mine that night, was paid £5,000 for his fight. That £500 lasted me six months because I couldn't get another fight.

'I knew I had been in with far better fighters than either Michael or Benn had - world-ranked middleweight destroyers like Alex Ramos and Richard Burton when they were live world-ranked middleweights. I mean, I fought Simon Collins and Anthony Logan in the space of eight days; Simon Collins having had a 1-2-round shootout with Watson and Anthony Logan having had a 1-2-round shootout with Benn; I controlled these opponents and cleanly out-classed them, and I was a 10-11-fight novice. I did so because I was a mature adult.

'Listen, I was ringside at the Benn-Watson clash in Finsbury Park when there were 9,000 spectators crammed into this tent contraption. Benn arrived in his Porsche, I recall seeing him in the car park mobbed by fans. It was like a Rocky scene. Five days later, I fought in front of 90 people in York Hall before catching the train back to Brighton to go back to my bedsit and sofabed.

'The point of fact is this: the harder you come up, the harder you become. I beat Benn and I beat Watson because I was harder than them, not because I was more gifted or more naturally talented, or because I had the fanfare and the pampering. For Watson the first time, I lost 19lb in four days, fought the same day as the weigh-in and entered the ring covered in his fans spit.

'In those overdue middleweight clashes I was only troubled by Benn's punching power and by Watson's defensive guard, I always knew I could maneveur around them and beat them with tighter shots; because while they were soaking up the attention on the way up, I was in the gymnasium chipping away at perfecting my craft - moving, punching. When you live a life of zero substances and zero socializing, you have a clear mind and you know your own skillset.

'Yes, I went on to make a lot of money through the business of boxing - tens of millions of pounds, in fact - but I earned it, and enjoyed it.'

Fascinating words from a fascinating man who demands respect for his achievements in the hard world of boxing.

Primadonna Kool · 12-20-2012, 09:14 PM

That's good that...

Makes you want to read more.

leedsnproud · 12-21-2012, 05:48 AM

What about Steve Collins then? Whats his excuse for being beat twice by him?

IRONSENSE2002 · 12-21-2012, 05:57 AM

no one cares. hes yesterdays news and he wants people to remember how good he was off his son's fame. he needs to STFU and stop living his life through his child. Eubank spent the best part of his career defending a wbo belt(which was seen as insignificant as the wbu title) against guys who were never ranked in the top 10, the man ducked james toney and michael nunn. He refused to come over to america to fight the best.

Mulcahy86 · 12-21-2012, 06:12 AM

Watson clearly won the first fight, total robbery.

slip&counter · 12-21-2012, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leedsnproud

What about Steve Collins then? Whats his excuse for being beat twice by him?

Eubank was not the same mentally, plus i had him winning the first fight.

Beeston Brawler · 12-21-2012, 07:17 AM

Aside from McClellan, which Americans ever came here to fight the best in that era?

That's right.... absolutely none.

Jones was so scared of being robbed (

) that he barely fought outside his home town, and seldom had a referee or judge who he probably didn't know personally.

leedsnproud · 12-21-2012, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slip&counter

Eubank was not the same mentally, plus i had him winning the first fight.

He wasnt the same mentally? The guy lost at least two fights prior to Collins but was given gift decisions.
I watched every one of his fights,he was very tough but over-rated.

PaulieMc · 12-21-2012, 08:05 AM

Chris Eubank Sr is so effin awesome! He will forever be the Don of British Boxing.

ApatheticLeader · 12-21-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONSENSE2002

no one cares. hes yesterdays news and he wants people to remember how good he was off his son's fame. he needs to STFU and stop living his life through his child. Eubank spent the best part of his career defending a wbo belt(which was seen as insignificant as the wbu title) against guys who were never ranked in the top 10, the man ducked james toney and michael nunn. He refused to come over to america to fight the best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulcahy86

Watson clearly won the first fight, total robbery.

ApatheticLeader · 12-21-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leedsnproud

He wasnt the same mentally? The guy lost at least two fights prior to Collins but was given gift decisions.
I watched every one of his fights,he was very tough but over-rated.

UndisputedUK · 12-21-2012, 12:49 PM

Good that his son is fighting regularly too. Two fights back to back the past couple of Saturday's.

For all the bragging, showboating etc, Eubank Snr COULD back it up in the Ring and then some.

ApatheticLeader · 12-21-2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndisputedUK

Good that his son is fighting regularly too. Two fights back to back the past couple of Saturday's.

For all the bragging, showboating etc, Eubank Snr COULD back it up in the Ring and then some.

I have never seen such a short post be so wrong on so many levels.

SkillspayBills · 12-21-2012, 02:36 PM

Thanks Atberry, Good read.

dannyboy147 · 12-21-2012, 02:43 PM

Is that an extract or is that the full interview? If its an extract please post more. Cheers

12-20-2012, 09:06 PM	#1
atberry Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,966 vCash: 1000	Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Chris Eubank Sr on why/how he beat Nigel Benn and Michael Watson Misunderstood was one word to describe Chris Eubank in his early prime days. Mistakenly thought of as obscenely arrogant, Eubank was merely proud and focussed, and his body language reflected this in the ring. Eubank tells me about his tough boxing upbringing and how this helped him overcome top-class British rivals Nigel Benn and Michael Watson in the early nineties. 'To an extent, I mean, I have to say, from my viewpoint, Michael and Nigel had been pampered fighters - pampered. They had extremely wealthy and immensely powerful managers behind them in Mickey Duff and Frank ****, respectively, as well as Bob Arum in America. I had nothing, I just had myself. I had been turned down by the Top Rank, then turned by Duff, (and) turned down by ****. 'I mean, I remember taking on a fight for Duff - who didn't like my independant attitude towards the business - on just a few hours notice because I needed the money, and the opponent had 10-12lbs weight on me. I got £500, and Michael Watson, who's fight was the one after mine that night, was paid £5,000 for his fight. That £500 lasted me six months because I couldn't get another fight. 'I knew I had been in with far better fighters than either Michael or Benn had - world-ranked middleweight destroyers like Alex Ramos and Richard Burton when they were live world-ranked middleweights. I mean, I fought Simon Collins and Anthony Logan in the space of eight days; Simon Collins having had a 1-2-round shootout with Watson and Anthony Logan having had a 1-2-round shootout with Benn; I controlled these opponents and cleanly out-classed them, and I was a 10-11-fight novice. I did so because I was a mature adult. 'Listen, I was ringside at the Benn-Watson clash in Finsbury Park when there were 9,000 spectators crammed into this tent contraption. Benn arrived in his Porsche, I recall seeing him in the car park mobbed by fans. It was like a Rocky scene. Five days later, I fought in front of 90 people in York Hall before catching the train back to Brighton to go back to my bedsit and sofabed. 'The point of fact is this: the harder you come up, the harder you become. I beat Benn and I beat Watson because I was harder than them, not because I was more gifted or more naturally talented, or because I had the fanfare and the pampering. For Watson the first time, I lost 19lb in four days, fought the same day as the weigh-in and entered the ring covered in his fans spit. 'In those overdue middleweight clashes I was only troubled by Benn's punching power and by Watson's defensive guard, I always knew I could maneveur around them and beat them with tighter shots; because while they were soaking up the attention on the way up, I was in the gymnasium chipping away at perfecting my craft - moving, punching. When you live a life of zero substances and zero socializing, you have a clear mind and you know your own skillset. 'Yes, I went on to make a lot of money through the business of boxing - tens of millions of pounds, in fact - but I earned it, and enjoyed it.' Fascinating words from a fascinating man who demands respect for his achievements in the hard world of boxing.
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12-20-2012, 09:14 PM	#2
Primadonna Kool P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 16,543 vCash: 1000	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) That's good that... Makes you want to read more.
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12-21-2012, 05:48 AM	#3
leedsnproud Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 142 vCash: 1000	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) What about Steve Collins then? Whats his excuse for being beat twice by him? Last edited by leedsnproud; 12-21-2012 at 06:12 AM.
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12-21-2012, 05:57 AM	#4
IRONSENSE2002 muslim and proud ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham/Leeds/azad kashmir(Mirpur) Posts: 3,410 vCash: 75	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) no one cares. hes yesterdays news and he wants people to remember how good he was off his son's fame. he needs to STFU and stop living his life through his child. Eubank spent the best part of his career defending a wbo belt(which was seen as insignificant as the wbu title) against guys who were never ranked in the top 10, the man ducked james toney and michael nunn. He refused to come over to america to fight the best.
Top

12-21-2012, 06:12 AM	#5
Mulcahy86 newbie Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 5 vCash: 500	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Watson clearly won the first fight, total robbery.
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12-21-2012, 07:17 AM	#7
Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly East Side VIP Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: trying to increase my overdraft.... Posts: 35,247 vCash: 75	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Aside from McClellan, which Americans ever came here to fight the best in that era? That's right.... absolutely none. Jones was so scared of being robbed () that he barely fought outside his home town, and seldom had a referee or judge who he probably didn't know personally.
Top

12-21-2012, 08:05 AM	#9
PaulieMc Vae Victis ESB Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 2,018 vCash: 416	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Chris Eubank Sr is so effin awesome! He will forever be the Don of British Boxing.
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12-21-2012, 12:49 PM	#12
UndisputedUK Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,916 vCash: 1000	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Good that his son is fighting regularly too. Two fights back to back the past couple of Saturday's. For all the bragging, showboating etc, Eubank Snr COULD back it up in the Ring and then some.
Top

12-21-2012, 02:36 PM	#14
SkillspayBills Mandanda Running E-Pen East Side VIP Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 12,999 vCash: 500	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Thanks Atberry, Good read.
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12-21-2012, 02:43 PM	#15
dannyboy147 Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen,Sunny Scotland Posts: 1,339 vCash: 75	Re: Eubank on how/why he beat Benn/Watson (Awesome article.) Is that an extract or is that the full interview? If its an extract please post more. Cheers
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