Chris Eubank Comments incl McCallum

Sport Magazine in London, June '08

Some of the Q's and A's are interesting...


You did so much in your career but didn't engage the best American fighters in unification title bouts. Could you elaborate on those reasons for us?

I had no desire for another Watson II and no desire to be controlled by Don King.


Do the boxing public claim that the WBO belt you held isn't one of the big belts?

You take what you can get, it is a business afterall. If the four bodies aren't equal, that means WBC is the best. I got a draw with the WBC champion so that meant I was atleast equal best if you go by that, which you shouldn't.

I also beat a German in Germany who never lost the IBF version of the world championship and later beat the WBA holder of the world title in a world championship fight in Germany. I beat a better Henry Wharton better than the WBC world champion did.

I can only say that I never dodged anybody.


One of my personal favourites was "Body Snatcher" Mike McCallum. He was an unknown quantity and doesn't get recognition or credit to this day it seems...
[Interrupts]
Oh, yes, Mike McCallum.

Mike McCallum was arguably the best on the planet, pound-for-pound. He wasn't fast, he wasn't evasive, he wasn't powerful, he wasn't charismatic or arrogant; yet he made it look easy to land punches and dominate fighters. That's my view.

For me, fighting Michael Watson, at first, in the end, was just proving myself against the great Mike McCallum, if truth be told! He'd already done the job, man. I just wanted to prove to myself that I was as good as I suspected I was.

There was little chance of me fighting McCallum. He didn't want to know back when I was nobody and you can't blame that in a fighter. He wanted some money. When I became champion, there was no money for me with him and this was a gentleman who could damage you internally.



High praise for McCallum from Eubank! Didn't he train his son at a while back??

Funny little part-

We said we'd talk about the game you're promoting, so let's get the plug out the way. What can you tell us about Don King Presents Prizefighter?
Nothing.

Nothing at all?
No.

Have you not played it?
No. I don't play games and I never have.

So you're just putting your name to it?
Yes.

In return for some nice cash?
[Silence]

Are you still there, Chris?
Yes.

Are you not going to answer that question?
Did you say something?

Yes, I asked if you're being paid to promote the game?
What's your name?

What's my name got to do with it?
Okay, next question, please?

What are you up to these days?
I'm relaxing, you know. I'm on the planet.

 

[url]http://www.itnsource.com/compilations/sportlifestyleandquirky/sports/?lr=S31030701[/url] -Go to Clip 49 in the link, seemed friendly with King there

 

Nunn jumped ship from Arum to King purely because he wanted Eubank in Britain. So Eubank stitched Nunn up in a way.

 

It's very accurate, Nunn was trying to find a market in Europe, because he failed in US.

He had no charisma, though.