Who was Eubank Sr`s best opponent?

http://tss.ib.tv/articles/21565-it-was-18-years-ago-today-chris-eubank-vs-joe-calzaghe

https://www.ringnews24.com/2017/03/23/joe-calzaghe-v-chris-eubank-look-back-battle-wills/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/7015378.stm

Some decent reads...interesting that Calzaghe calls Eubank his toughest opponent. Could just be one of those things boxers say....but it has an air of authenticity to me.

 

I agree...and find IMO that Benn was a better SMW and his style progressed and evolved so that he was more well rounded than he was at MW...

I have scored the fight twice 1 a draw and 2 Benn by 1 point...

 

Calzaghe is one of those guys I began to appreciate to late in my youthful arrogance.

He wasn’t from the US so I didn’t know a lot about him and found him somewhat untested/protected (and perhaps he was). I figured if he ever fought a top notch fighter he would be exposed, and disappear from memory.

I remember heading into the Lacy fight, I still didn’t give Joe his due (and in ignorance hadn’t watched much of him to form that opinion). I thought Lacy was the real deal, and Joe was not...I was way wrong and misinformed (if not completely uninformed). Maybe Lacy was not as good as I/many thought? Maybe Joe was better than I imagined? Perhaps a little of both.

After that I began to take him seriously reviewing his career and taking interest in his future. A great whose career had half expired and I didn’t allow myself to enjoy it.

This is probably why I try to keep an open mind on current boxers and reputations they get without giving them a chance to prove themselves. I still think Hops beat him but that is a discussion for a different thread lol.

 

It was his first big fight, but he was 25 going on 26.

 

He was probably at or near his physical peak/prime, but I don’t think he had the experience or competition to have been what he would become.

 

Collins wasnt even CLOSE to being Eubanks toughest opponent.
I mean really can you imagine what a prime Watson would have done to Collins??
Or for Benn for that matter?
Graciano Roc was better then Collins.
So was multi champ Maligna .
Who did Collins ever face and beat that were at peak form?

 

I think they were all of a similar level too.

McCallum was better than all of them at his best, and that includes Joe. But you'd have to have favoured Joe over an ageing version of Mike at SMW/LHW.

 

I remember Benn getting his head outboxed by Maligna the second time .
Totally shot and everyone knew it.
So he signs to fight Collins and gets stopped. And all the Collins fans made a huge deal about it.
Same with Eubank. YEARS past his best and the best Collins could do was two close decison wins-one being a SPLIT DECSION??!??!
And he was trying to face ROY JONES?????

 

True, but he didn't have the injuries back then.

I don't know.

I guess most people would pick the Lacy version.

Interestingly, just before he fought Kessler in 2007, he and his father both agreed that that was the best version of him.

Joe was quoted as saying:

"This version of me would kick the a$$ of the version of me who fought Eubank"

I don't know if he really believed that or if he was just trying to hype the fight.

 

Lol, could just be one of those things guys say later in thier career to convince themselves or others that they are still at the top of thier game. Could be he actually believed it.

I think mentally and knowing the nuances of Championship level fighting I am inclined to agree with him.. but he also did have some of the physical limitations you alluded to.

I think he was close to his sharpest if not his actual best.

 

This has always been my opinion.

Collins was undoubtedly tough and durable, but his resume is overrated.

It looks good at first glance with Benn and Eubank x 2, but not when you break it down.

He obviously only rematched Eubank because their first fight was close.

He only rematched Benn, because Benn twisted his ankle in their first fight. Otherwise, there'd have been no need for one. Like you've noted, Benn had come out of retirement at that point, and he put a huge bet on himself to win as a way of motivating him. Afterwards, he said: "I knew I was kind of gone at that stage"

 

Thank god someone else agrees with me!!
I respect Collins he was always tough and game and he had heart
But my god people act like he almost beat Mccallum and he didnt-sure in rare spots he had success but they were rare.
Kalambay on his last legs beat him .
And Eubank when they met was a part time boxer-hell he struggled with Ray Close. TWICE.
He simply wasnt in Benn Watson or Eubanks class .