You mean the blow out went to his head? I've always thought that win and the Bumphus blow affected his style too much, but I think even after those fights he was still able to alter his style and box at a top level when needed (Vaca rematch) even if he didn't do it very often. I think it was the Starling beating that finished him physically, after that he was done at top world level no matter what tactics he employed in fight.
I think personally he knew Vaca was not at his level and that, that cut had not healed properly. So by going in, face first, he was confident he would get the job done. Watching the Chung fight is seemed clear Honeyghan had peaked, sure Chung tried to cheat his way to victory, but Lloyd was not quite right in that fight. Do not get me wrong, the ease in which The Magic Man beat Honeyghan surprised me, but I did pick Marlon to win a decision, because I knew Lloyd had 'Jumped the Shark'.
Eubank was in plenty of stinkers where he fought down to the level of his opposition and just did enough to win.