Five fights and 54 full rounds in less than seven months up to Wharton. Eubank was fighting (for the modern era) an insane schedule, because of the money he could make on that SKY deal. Sure that was not Collins' problem, but it does show why Eubank was struggling. And yet Eubank still nearly pulled it out of the fire. If a tired Eubank is nearly beating a prime Collins, a fresh 90/91 Eubank fighting a relatively inexperienced Collins, fours years off his pomp, is clearly by all logic going to be warmly favoured.
Two main reasons Collins beat Eubank. 1. He made him fight three minutes a round, which Eubank found difficult later in his career as weightmaking took its toll 2. He spooked Chris saying he had been hypnotised. Fight was nearly called off the evening before it took place, Eubank terrifed that a hypnotised man would not feel pain, leaving him open to a repeat of nthe Watson nightmare. Chris was hard, but also sensitive. Many times, he had fighters in trouble and held back. He did the same against Collins.
Aww, you went and spoiled a good point with your final paragraph. Pity. Eubank and Barry Hearn dismissed the idea that the schedule was too much, but it could very well have been as it was pretty brutal. So yeah, Eubank may well have been tired, and the first Collins fight was close. Fair enough.
The hypnotism thing probably didn't affect Eubank - what almost certainly did affect him was a press conference where Collins talked about helping his Irish community, and said "what is Eubank doing to help his race, the Africans?" I actually think it was pretty genius, if uncalled for.
Quote: The last time I saw Chris Eubank was in the ring after our second fight before the decision was announced. I offered my hand and asked to let bygones be bygones and be friends. He didn't shake my hand and called me the 'R' word and 'C' word. I haven't seen him since. whats the R word?
Low blow Eubank! :-( Eubank was shitting himself before Collins V Eubank 2, complaining Collins was cheating, instead he was just takin the complete **** out of Eubank psychologically. I think Collins would have beaten Eubank whenever or wherever they met.
It's fair enough if the "help the Africans" comment is accurate. At best it's the language of a complete idiot, and racially provocative whichever way you spin it.
Its likely that he would,Collins would build an early lead and just keep coming.Eubank would be hoping to get to him late and would probably have more success from round 7 on but Collins would still be right in the rounds and he was a hard man to put off coming forward.In 91 I would go with Collins on a close points win.
Struggle to see Collins building an early lead, Eubank had a very awkward style that took a few rounds to get used to and to get timing and range down on him