We’re looking back over the career and early life of Chris Eubank Jr.
l Date of Birth: 18th September 1989
l Weight Class: Middleweight
l Weight: 163 pounds
l Height: 5’ 8”
l Hometown: Brighton, South East England
His Father’s Son
Chris Eubank Sr. is widely regarded as one of the best British middleweight boxers in history, helping British boxing surge to popularity with his undefeated run in the 80’s and 90’s, where his eccentric persona made him stand out.
His son follows him in the middleweight and super middleweight class and has enjoyed Eubank’s tutelage and training throughout his career.
A Strong Start
Chris Eubank Jr. had his first fight in 2011 against Kiril Psonko, demonstrating considerable skill in achieving a technical knockout.
He continued to climb steadily through the ranks of the British middleweight division, impressing fans with his technical ability and wide array of punching styles.
Made in America
Eubank Jr. actually began his boxing career as an amateur in the United States as a teenager after having been sent to live there by his family to enable to acquire dual citizenship.
He distinguished himself, becoming first the Amateur Golden Glove Champion for the State of Nevada, then Chris Eubank Jr next fight for the Western States of the United States.
His amateur career culminated in 24 wins and 2 losses.
Only Defeated Once
Eubank Jr. has suffered two defeats, once in his professional career by fellow Briton Billy Joe Saunders in September 2014 and the second to George Groves recently.
The build-up to the Saunders fight was marked by mutual animosity between the fighters in boxing betting, and their resentment was visible in their in-ring performances.
Although initially off-balanced by the experience and creativity of Saunders, Eubank Jr. rallied in the second half of the match, but still lost by split decision.
Groves then defeated him in the World Boxing Super Series.
A Tragic fight
Eubank fought up and coming British talent Nick Blackwell in February 2016. Much like his fight with Saunders (a friend of Blackwell), the run-up to the match was characterised by personal provocation.
In the event, however, Eubank Jr. dominated, to the point that his father and trainer Chris Eubank Sr. told his son to stop hitting Blackwell in the head and begged the referee to end the match.
The fight ended up going to the tenth round before Eubank scored the win by TKO, after which Blackwell had to be taken from the ring by stretcher to hospital.
He was found to have bleeding on his brain and deemed ineligible to continue boxing.
The incident echoed Eubank Sr.’s defeat of Michael Watson in 1991, who was forced to retire after sustaining a near-fatal injury to his brain during the match.
