Following a heavy training session with his son Christopher Eubank Jr, Chris Eubank took time to answer questions regarding the best opponents he fought in his own legendary career. Divided into categories as popular site RingTV had done with his rivals Steve Collins and Nigel Benn, Eubank gives us his verdicts. Best overall: For infighting, Michael Watson in our second fight for closing the range all night and clustering all over with everything into every punch. For outfighting, Dan Schommer for being marginally out of range and in the perfect spot all night to counter my right with his southpaw hook. Best boxer: I will say Ray Close in the sense that I suppose light shots and light feet always troubled me because I always set myself to pivot with correct technique. I was too correct for my own good, and Ray used the in-and-out game. Best puncher: Nigel Benn as a one-punch artist had the fastest delivery and heaviest connection, he really torqued his body as well as anyone I've seen punch or coiled like a spring into that overhand right hand smash. Tremendous puncher was Nigel Benn. Best defense: For blocking, Michael Watson and Gracianio Rocchigiani covered up better than any fighters I've seen, but what I had better than anyone I came across was the natural punching accuracy and so I could get hard shots into the small gaps. For evading, Nigel Benn in the second half of our second fight weaved his head in and out and around the most rapid-fire five-punch combination I've ever thrown, he shouldn't have been able to do that and I still don't know how he did. Fastest hands: With single shots, Nigel Benn. With combination work, Joe Calzaghe. Fastest feet: Dan Sherry kept me twisting and turning all night. Best chin: Henry Wharton. I unloaded everything I had and he was still there as strong as ever come the end. Best jab: Graciano Rocchigiani would counter your jab really well with his southpaw jab from a high position. Strongest: Michael Watson in our second fight. I couldn't even budge him until the 11th round despite throwing all that I had, and every shot he landed was stiff and solid. It took supernatural strength to beat him. Smartest: In the ring, Randy Smith. Out of the ring, Steve Collins.
I'm thinking Eubank maybe didn't fight many Pure Boxers? Like Calzaghe swarmed and slugged more than he boxed back then, and Watson and Malinga (and I suppose Stretch) used pressure tactics, and Schommer was more of a boxer-puncher. Close was the first guy to counter Eubanks long loopy right hand, doing so with 3-4 good short shots rat-a-tat-tat but had zero power.
Agreed, that's even more laughable then Mike McCallum saying Herol Graham was the best boxer he fought.
