Eubank Sr hints McCallum and Jones Jr were scared, that he was shot against Calzaghe

Solid? Try spectacular. Benn was the most explosive middleweight of them all and Eubank used every inch of the canvas, landed straight right hands that never travelled even six inches, and his combinations flowed like a river! It was an incredible performance.

Benn was hardly green, he actually retired in the ring after. He was world champion, beat Barkley in Vegas in a round. He was becoming polished and in his prime.

 

I agree that Benn just about edged the rematch. His lateral upper body movement was about the most effective we've seen, in that fight. McClellan and Collins then struggled desperately to time their right hands, too. The odd thing was that Eubank led off against Benn in the rematch, rather than look to counter.

 

See, when punches came at Eubank, he would evade them - particularly jabs - with the slightest head motion while remaining poker-faced and relaxed. When punches came at Jones he would be turning his head in a panic, stretching his neck; even closing his eyes!

 

He did prefer the more scientific approach, did Eubank. Staying marginally out of range, stepping in with untelegraphed jabs to head or body before skipping back out of distance (just), then countering sharply. It was highly effective of course. Not smooth, in-range slip-counters like Toney or smooth, steady flurrying/lean-backs like Nunn. Or the non-step approach of McCallum/Hopkins (McCallum would jab lightly then counter dowstairs with power, Hopkins would lean in and fall forward with the lead right).

 

Watson made that quote prior to the first fight, not prior to the second fight.

Eubank completely schooled Michael with scientific ability in that first fight, as he predicted he would three years prior.

 

Nothing lucky about a planned, precision punch my friend! It was so well-executed, lacing through the gap in poor Michael's guard and catching him square on the chin with great leverage. He spaced his feet and torqued perfectly, did Eubank.

 

Eubank originated the quote in the post-fight interview after the Johnny Melfah fight: "Michael Watson, Nigel Benn - you are not capable of beating me. My skills are far superior to yours. Herol Graham is the only fighter in this country who can touch me."

 

Yeah, beating them both and never losing to either. Making them both look silly in the middleweight title fight first fights, early doors. This was pre-Milo Eubank before he and we knew his weakness to body shots!