Eubank on Ali, Toney and how to win

atberry · Jan 18, 2012

Out in Europe and Africa in the 1990s, Chris Eubank was arguably one of the biggest sporting figures. Dressed to kill and speaking the Queen's English out of the ring, and posing a perfectly-sculptured physique in the ring, Chris Eubank caught the imagination. He was never in a rush, he would leap-frog the top ring rope and he'd sport a distinct, robotic, marital arts-like boxing style that always looked a nightmare for his opposing challenger to figure out.

A fascinating character, especially known in his native UK, I recently spoke to Mr Eubank exclusively for Two Dice Boxing for opinions on his career, his philosophies and advise, and why he and James 'Lights Out' Toney never crossed paths and what would've happened if they had!

Sit tight.
Eubank believes that merely persisting with something can win a boxing match over skill or ability.

"Persistence wins. Are you a good boxer? Are you good? Well, good has nothing to do with it. I beat many good fighters and many who were better than me and the reason I beat them was because I was persistent.

"Take Anthony Logan - he had a far better record than me at the time. Michael Watson in our second fight was far too strong for me that night. Nigel Benn, Lindell Holmes and Henry Wharton were far more gifted at punching than I was, and Dan Schommer was far more deceptive than I was.

"I beat them all."

He also feels that aesthetics can come into play on the cards.

"I understood that boxing is a judged sport, like figure skating, gymnastics and bodybuilding. I realized that, in front of judges, looking good was as important as being good. That's why I won so many decisions in so many close contests."

Eubank insists that he didn't possess God-given talent as a fighter, but what he did possess was a great boxing brain and know-how that allowed him to tactically overcome more natural-born boxers.

"I wasn't actually that gifted, but I was clever. I was studious and knew how to beat a particular style. Nigel Benn and Thornton liked to close the distance, so I used the ring and danced around them. Ron Essett and Jarvis liked to use the ring, so I closed the distance and cut off the corners. Rocchigiani used the peek-a-boo defense and so I went for the body, and Henry Wharton used the shoulder roll defense and so I went for jabs.

"I knew what I was doing, and I never showed fear but always showed control, and I knew what the judges wanted. The only times I didn't show control was caused by what I perceived as racial slurs - Collins and Sherry - being drawn in and emotionally charged."

He also says he made up for a lack of talent by just training harder than his peers.

"I was arguably the biggest overachiever. I first started sparring two months before I turned 17, and I wasn't naturally talented. I never set out to have the longest unbeaten record in professional boxing - I only set out to win my first fight!

"But very few, if any, perspirated in the gymnasium more than I, and even fewer wasted a lesser percentage of perspiration. To become dexterious in the feet and supple at the waist, with tonnes of pressure behind six-inch counter-punches, takes a lot of work."

And, persisting and not quitting he feels goes a long way to achieving success and respect.

"If you don't give up, you win. If you're willing to go through those pain barriers, you win. You win fights, you win money, you win fans, you win respect... you win... even in defeat you can win the hearts of the people. It's just not giving up. Be brave, be controlled, be deceptive... but don't you ever give up. Then you're a winner."

Chris feels he reached all landmarks of a great fight career and that one of his best traits was honesty.

"If you can outline the perfect career, you would first learn the art form, and I did that to the letter. You would then apply the philosophy, and I did that to the letter. You then want to gain the glory, which I did by winning two of the greatest fights ever seen in world boxing. Then, it is to acquire the money, and I was a multi-millionaire in my mid-20s. Then, you achieve the fame - I clocked up 2,000 mainstream media interviews in my prime.

"And last but certainly not least, you earn the respect, which is what I did as significantly as one could in accordance to the fact of turning the loudest boos to the loudest cheers through nothing but dignity and integrity."

He also gives some personal thoughts on the great Muhammad Ali, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday.

"I've always had an obsession with correctness, which certainly helped me in mastering the punches and moves of boxing. David Beckham I relate to, David Beckham had an obsessive nature to master striking the football and executing free kicks, much like I did in the most complex execution of a punch and striking correctly.

"My earliest boxing memory is willing George Foreman to knock out Muhammad Ali in 1974 because I sensed Ali's behavior was incorrect. But what one doesn't appreciate as a kid is integrity, and when one grows into a man and learns more about particular men who stood up for what they believed and didn't back down, you grow an appreciation for integrity. And that's what Muhammad Ali did for Chris Eubank.

"People didn't like me, in my peak - in fact I was bitterly detested by a large majority of the public. That was only misrepresentation in the media, that wasn't meant. Of course they helped me get money and fame by getting the punters through the turnstiles and the public switching the television on me, but I never meant for that.

"I was always for integrity and dignity, and never failed in either, and that's why I won over in the end of my career."
And onto James Toney!

"I would describe James Toney as the reason I never got endorsement deals with Adidas or Reebok."

Harsh. I got the impression Eubank never forgave Toney for telling him via satellite that he'd beat his 'Momma's ass'!

Eubank explains that the fight wouldn't have generated enough money for the potential long-term damage it could've inflicted on either or both men!

"Yes, from late 1992 to early 1994, Chris Eubank-James Toney was the match that escaped. I do understand that it would've been great for the spectators, the best against the best, but Toney had so much burning desire in his solar plexus even as champion that I knew he probably wouldn't give up and knew he'd throw nothing but a catalog of combinations. It had 'Watson II' written all over it. I already had that fight. Toney hadn't had that fight and he wanted it.

"But believe me, I'm delighted to this day that the fight never materialized with Toney. I've got all my faculties in tact. I'm physically fit and mentally healthy, and I speak clearly. It would've been personal after all, because he insulted my mother.

"I couldn't wait on him or throw a jab half-heartedly or he'd have walked it, I'd have had to step in firmly and throw with force, and throw follow-up blows before I'd even pulled my left glove back to my chin. I know that. It would've been brutal and could've gone either way. The truth is I don't know who'd have won or if stretchers would've been involved. I don't know.

"I had more foot movement and multi-distanced punching but he had more fluidity and side-on evasions. I don't know, that's the truth. I was never offered enough money."

All in all a terrific talk to one of the most intelligent boxers (alongside Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins, Lennox Lewis and Bobby Czyz) that I have had the privilege to meet.
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atberry · Jan 19, 2012

bump

neemo2357 · Jan 19, 2012

I always wondered what would have happened has Eubank got it on with Roy Jones/James Toney. A talented bunch no doubt. Shame I didn't see Roy Jones or James Toney fight in their respective primes.

achillesthegreat · Jan 19, 2012

It had 'Watson II' written all over it. I already had that fight. Toney hadn't had that fight and he wanted it.

Stupidest thing Chris has ever said I usually agree with everything he says.

By 94 Toney had mixed it up with Nunn, Johnson, McCallum, Tiberi, Barkely and Jones in pretty much any god damn type of fight you want!

achillesthegreat · Jan 19, 2012

Benn vs Jones
Toney vs Eubank
Eubank vs Jones
Benn vs Toney

Great stylistic match ups. Jones and Toney have the technical edge no doubt but its about styles. Does Jones chin get cracked, does Toney come in out of shape, can Eubank get a come from behind ko etc etc etc

atberry · Jan 19, 2012

None of Toney's fights were life and death personal wars like Watson vs Eubank II

brown bomber · Jan 19, 2012

atberry said: ↑

None of Toney's fights were life and death personal wars like Watson vs Eubank II
Click to expand...

Nunn fight was

mcguirpa · Jan 19, 2012

atberry said: ↑

None of Toney's fights were life and death personal wars like Watson vs Eubank II
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think that's what he was saying. It's often been said that Eubank lost his killer instinct after the Watson fight. I think this is as close as he'll ever come to saying it himself.

atberry · Jan 19, 2012

brown bomber said: ↑

Nunn fight was
Click to expand...

Life and death? With feather-duster Nunn? Pfft.

Katie K · Jan 20, 2012

atberry said: ↑

Life and death? With
This content is protected
? Pfft.
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Tell that to Kalambay

atberry · Jan 20, 2012

Lucky punch, K8, lucky punch.

Karl Jade · Jan 20, 2012

Anyone have Eubank's book? Is it worth a read?

atberry · Jan 20, 2012

Karl Jade said: ↑

Anyone have Eubank's book? Is it worth a read?
Click to expand...

Think I had it years ago from the library, yeah it was impressive and didn't seem at all ghost-written.

Karl Jade · Jan 20, 2012

Cheers! That doesn't surprise me, the man can articulate himself almost as well as he could fight.

atberry · Jan 20, 2012

He sure could, KJ, he sure could. There was some talk of Eubank letting Bunce do a ghost-written II book, with meatier stuff from his early life in and more out-of-the-ring politic/paper stuff during his prime years. Wonder if Steve and Chris have spoke recently about it?

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