Assuming he's serious about rematching Liam, the first thing he has to do is find a suitable trainer for which there are plenty in the UK. RJJ is teaching him how to be RJJ which just ain't going to work for him. Now he knows that he believed too much in his own hype and knows he's vulnerable, he has to start off with some soft touches to regain his confidence. Who would you bring in to train him and who would you have him fight first before the Liam rematch?
I'm not sure anyone can help him. Liam might just have his number. Being "elusive" didn't help Eubank, and if he goes back to his more confrontational flurry ambush style, that'll play into the hands of Beefy even more. With that style, he probably gets KTFO even earlier.
Beefy said it before the fight; at their respective ages, neither could afford a loss, because there would be no time left to rebuild. Chris will be forced to take the rematch because his mouth and get KO d again, and that will be it.
I'd be surprised if he got KO'd again. Nobody picked Eubank getting stopped by Smith, absolutely nobody (seriously) did that. It's one of those times where it's great to be wrong. But let's be real. This was an incredible upset due to the fact Eubank had never been stopped or even down, and against bigger fighters, including genuine KO punchers, and that Smith was not known for power even at 154. And Eubank had been in with fighters arguably more skilled than Smith and still never been badly hurt, so it wasn't about 'levels' either. Not only that, it was a quick stoppage, not a long grinding fight. This makes me believe there truly was something wrong with Eubank, either CTE or actually drained. If it was CTE related, lost his chin finally, then I guess he could get KO'd again. But it seems more likely he was compromised by whatever he was doing for the fight before and this one. If that is somehow corrected, I would expect him to not be troubled by Smith's power and then have a very good chance of decision or stoppage himself. I would love to see him KO'd again by Smith, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Abel Sanchez. Eubank needs a guy that will teach him how to use his natural attributes, his physicality and power. This cutesey boxing angle isn't going to cut it.
Eubank at his best was a brawler with good stamina, good work rate and a decent chin He's now been stopped by a fairly average puncher and looks suspect doing a poor mans RJJ impression. I think the weight likely had an impact he looked totally shredded at one stage and at 33 it's probably 1 too far. I was thinking he would beat Smith and then look to face GGG but it's pretty obvious he's not going to get a world title now. He's had a solid career with some respectable wins a rematch with Liam at 157 or whatever Smith said after the fight would be the end of Eubank I would think. So all he can do is stay above 160 or 168 but he wasn't huge at supermiddle...and times running out for him now to rebuild and challenge a legit champion again. He may be best calling it a day. Brook is apparently looking to fight again and that might generate some cash but that's about it.
There's no reconstruction for CEJ, he's been embarrassed on the grand stage and there's no coming back!
He's just had taken from him the one quality thought to be elite - his chin. And now it's been cracked it will crack again more easily. He's too big for 160 and too small for 168. I don't see where he goes from here...
Too big for MW, too small for SMW. Only option really is to fight people in the same category at the 168 limit. Small field.
Was he ever constructed? He lost to a one armed Groves. He's a slightly better Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The cringe RJJ swagger stance he adopted, which seemed to be the only thing he picked up, was always going to get him KO'd.
There is no rebuilding at 33 years old. At this age you try and tighten up your defense or add some new angles to your offense.
