Sometimes we forget what a legend this guy was

I respect your opinion bud. I agree with the last sentence.

 

Eubank's not an ATG, not even close.

 

The best he faced beat him, that's the bottom-line.

 

'ATG' is a generic term relating to top American-based fighters. What Eubank did outside of America was unheard of. He was the biggest name outside the heavyweights in South Africa, Europe and Asia.

 

Lol, holy **** what.

 

Bulldog is Eubank Jr , if you weren't aware.

 

Eubank's "WBO" super-middle title reign was mostly a joke. A bit like Calzaghe's.
There were a few good wins there - Watson of course, Rocchigiani, and he looked impressive against Wharton - but there were several challengers that had no business even pretending to be world class, and Eubank didn't always look any better than some of them ! He got some dubious decisions, disputable ones at best.

WBO middle/super-middle titles was a second-tier sideshow for the most part.
As much as we love Benn, Eubank, Watson and the wars they put on, there were fighters rated above them in the true world order back then.
There's been a lot of revisionism to obscure that fact.

You'd have to ask yourself whether Eubank and Benn can be rated above Sugar Boy Maligna, in all fairness.

 

I think what people fail to realise is how deep the divisions were back then unlike today where you have maybe 4 or 5 good fighters 4 or 5 decent fighters then a hell of a lot of no hopers. Even just looking across the pond around their time...you had 3 or 4 top top fighters. Then another 7 or 8 very good fighters. Again same with britain. Had 3 or 4 top fighters plus another 3 or 4 decent fighters. Then you had a few decent germans. Afticans. Etc.

So when people are saying things like he only beat this guy and he wasnt in the top 5 in america. Its more because the standard was so good as opposed to them being no good.

 

They are comfortably ahead of Malinga despite the fact I had him beating Benn both times and the Eubank fight was close as well.

 

Eubank brushed Malinga aside with his mind clearly and understandably not even on the job, Malinga was hitting air all night.

 

What?

 

I never saw Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles put on a shoulder-rolling clinic like Toney against McCallum, Barkley etc. Never saw even Duran or Armstrong fight inside as well as James against Barkley and Charles Williams. I never saw Ali or Pep show speed and reflexes as impressive as Jones Jr, or Robinson show combination punching as impressive as Roy's. And I never saw a fighter flow or throw body punch counters from range near as well as McCallum, or ride shots as well as McCallum and come back with theirs (Hearns in sparring couldn't do anything with McCallum but was Leonard's father for 12 rounds).

 

And yes the depth of talent at middle and super-middle in the late 80s and early 90s was just ridiculous - outside the top 10 you had incredibly talented tough black fighters from that seemingly never-ending 80s conveyor belt.

Lindell Holmes would annihilate Badou Jack in a few rounds! Look how sharp he looked early doors against peak Graham and peak Eubank and a non weight-weakened Tate (immense talent, star of 84 US Oly team).

 

Career-wise I'd put them a solid notch above Malinga too, but the point is Maligna deserves to be in the conversation with Eubank and Benn far more than Benn/Eubank deserve to be compared to the all-time greats of the sport, or even the best fighters of their particular era.

 

Apologies, I misunderstood your post, yes I agree with you there.