Who ranks higher All time? Hopkins or Calzaghe?

'This promotion had to have an attraction to top the bill while Naseem Hamed, the home town Prince, was otherwise engaged with the birth of his first little Princeling. Hence the rush to bring back Eubank before that eye had time to fully heal.

But while that old wound blurred his vision, it did nothing to impair his gift of hindsight.

'Looking back,' he said, 'I probably should have waited another two or three months.'

 

CHRIS EUBANK underwent a brain scan early this morning after his bruising defeat by Carl Thompson.

He was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary after slumping in the dressing room following a narrow points defeat at the local NYNEX Arena.

Doctors were worried at battered Eubank's condition and insisted that he should undergo the test.

One of Eubank's camp said: ``His face was a mass of bruises and the doctors were worried that his body had overheated.''

A MRI spokesman said: ``Mr Eubank has been detained overnight for observational tests including a brain scan.''

Eubank lost the WBO world crusierweight decider on a unanimous points decision, with Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon scoring it 114-113, England's David Parris 116-113 and American John Stewart 114-113.

Eubank, once a world champion at middleweight and then super-middle, was making his debut at the heavier mark.

He contested a gruelling fight half blind and showed incredible effort, fighting on at times on just pure instinct and tremendous courage.

Thompson's jab found its mark on Eubank's left eye with sickening regularity. And it soon started to mark and then close, giving Eubank the impression of a grotesque mask on one side of his face.

By round five the eye had closed to a virtual slit and for the last third of the fight Eubank was not able to see out of it at all.

It was as early as the second round that the 31-year- old challenger caught the champ with two lefts which stunned Thompson.

But the challenger did not seem to have enough puff to finish off his man, standing back to take a breather and admire his handiwork.

Eubank's best moment of the night came in the fourth. Thompson unleashed four big rights which had Eubank in trouble, but he found a tremendous shot.

It was a chilling uppercut, stunning Thompson and putting him down, and he took a standing eight count.

Then at the end of the ninth and in the 10th Eubank staggered Thompson with a left and a right.

By round 11 Eubank's face was a mess, with his nose and mouth bleeding.

It was Eubank's fourth successive world title defeat - but he showed he has still a lot to offer.

 

In contrast to this fight, Chris Eubank's challenge for Carl Thompson's WBO cruiserweight title was the most thrilling war I have witnessed since Benn - McClellan three years ago. Eubank had been written off by most experts given the fact that his last fight was contested in the super middleweight division, and his only ventures beyond 168lbs were two light heavyweight fights in Egypt over a year ago.

Thompson retained his title on a close points verdict, but I feel that Eubank actually beat himself tonight. He was expected to box on his toes against the bigger man, but he was game for a trade - off from the start. The eccentric showman shocked observers by rocking Thompson repeatedly from as early as the second round. However, he showed a glaring reluctance to stop his wounded foe just as he did after flooring Steve Collins in their first meeting.

Thompson visited the canvas in the fourth, and was on ***** street plenty of times, but Eubank simply refused to do himself justice. I feel he has been gun - shy ever since that tragic night when he stopped Michael Watson and from which Watson never fully recovered. Understandable, yes, but Eubank needs to overcome this mental obstacle if he wishes to continue boxing. At this advanced stage in his career, his legs just can't carry him through twelve rounds of boxing and moving.

The action became increasingly brutal as the fight wore on, and Eubank was not helped by the fact that his left eye was fully closed by round seven. At this point, he began to get "sticky feet", and he absorbed more and more heavy shots from the hometown champion. Thompson was much fresher in the latter quarter of the fight: Although he is a year older, he has much less mileage on the clock than 51 - fight veteran Eubank.

I felt - and still feel - that Eubank's corner should have retired their man around the ninth. Although he was still in with a chance of winning by stoppage or even on points, the Brigton man's steel chin and unquestionable heart were serving him too well for his own safety. I didn't mind watching a fight which was comparable to Benn - Mc Clellan, but that's where I wanted the similarity to end.

So a badly battered Eubank went out on his shield and suffered his second successive loss. He may be wise to close his career on this admirable note, but the punters are already baying for a rematch. Thompson obviously furthered his cause tremendously by prevailing in such a war - especially given the dullness of his title - winning effort last October - but he can count his lucky stars that Eubank has lost his finishing instincts.

 

:yep