Who was Eubank Sr`s best opponent?

Came across an old 2004 Ring magazine where they asked Chris this very question.

"The greatetht fighter i ever fathed wath a gentleman by the name of Billy Pickleth. He wath thimply thtupendouth. Me and ronnie would call him 'the ghotht', ath one minute he wath here, and then he wath there. Ronnie wath recording video footage of the thparring for uth to thtudy. We that down one evening to watth the tape and muth to our bemuthement, the tape thhowed what appeared to be me thhadow boxing alone in the ring. The camera wathn't able to pick up the movement of mr pickleth. He wath my hardetht opponent.

Alwayth a pleathure."

 

Nigel Benn.

 

i would personally call it Benn, but it very debatable amongst the two Brits and Collins. Rocky was also in the runnings along with a green Joe Cal.

 

Man you talk about Eubank more than me, and I thought I was one of his bigger fans.

First
Calzaghe was the best he fought but he was past prime and lost...so unless you are looking to say he lost his biggest fights irrespective of circumstances this one does not tell us a whole lot?

2-4 are fairly even with
Watson, Collins and Benn...Eubank officially going 3-2-1 against them.

I guess I would say
1 Calzaghe
2a Watson I
2b Watson II
4 Benn I
5a Collins II
5b Collins I

 

Benn and Watson brought out the best in Eubank.Especially Nigel in his first title fight. One of the Best fight s of the 90 s for me .

 

Not many fights have gotten me as excited through my life as the Eubank/Watson/Benn rivalry.

 

Same here my friend. They all came along at just the right time .

 

Historically Calzaghe is the greatest fighter he faced. Probably H2H as well at the time he faced them, even though Calzaghe was a bit green.

There isn't a huge amount between Benn, Watson, Collins and Rocchigiani.

 

No.

Joe was Eubank's best opponent.

 

Calzaghe and quite comfortably.

 

You are correct, but I think most would agree that a pre prime Calzaghe was still likely the best opponent that Eubank faced.

Calzaghe was supposed to be facing Collins who pulled out with an injury. So he had something like 2 weeks to get ready for a new opponent in Eubank. Eubank also had to deal with having 2 weeks to come down a weight class and prepare for his quickest and toughest opponent. Not ideal circumstances for either guy.

Decent article
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ba...plosive-changing-of-the-guard-eubank-calzaghe