Tonight on Sky Sports’ Ringside show – on a Froch-Groves II preview special – former middleweight king Chris Eubank was a guest, along with his son, unbeaten 15-0 pro talent Chris Eubnak Junior. Junior spoke of his “countless rounds” of sparring with George Groves and of his hard sparring with Carl Froch. Eubank said that, out of respect for both fighters, he would not give a pre-fight prediction on the rapidly approaching May 31st rematch; but he and his father (his father mostly) were not shy when it came to making predictions on Eubank Junior’s own career.
Recently, Eubank Senior was quoted as saying the only fighter out there who can beat his son right now is Andre Ward. Tonight, the man who was known as “Simply The Best” during his 1990’s heyday, went further, stating unchatergorcally how he feels his son is ready for all the middleweights and super-middleweights out there.
“Him now, after 15 pro fights, I wouldn’t be able to find a way to beat him,” Eubank said of his offspring.
“Him now, he beats me at my peak. The boy is frightening. I was gentle in comparison to the spirit he has. I see [Roberto] Duran, Roy Jones Jr, in terms of hand speed, foot speed and combination punching, and I see the darkness of James Toney.”
Eubank feels his son is ready now for the world elite.
“I’ve studied all the middleweight and super-middleweights [on the scene today], I’ve looked at them all. Gennady Golvkin? He (pointing at his son) beats him now.”
Bold words indeed, and Eubank Junior agrees with everything his famous father says.
“I want to become world champion and remain world champion,” Eubank Jr said when asked about his goals.
“I want to keep it for many years, it’s always been my dream to become world champion. If you don’t have self belief, you’re gonna get hurt and you’re gonna get knocked out; which hasn’t come close in any of my fights or in sparring. This is not just my father hyping me up, I’m coming for these middleweights that are out there. In time I’m going to get to the top fighters and you’ll see this is not just hype. I believe in everything my father says and I believe in the training I’ve had.”
24-year-old Eubank Junior, 15-0(10) had plenty of pressure on his shoulders already, being the son of a British boxing great. Now, as a result of his father’s bold predictions, there is even more pressure there. Can Junior deliver? Time will tell.
Now, how much does Gennady Golovkin know of Chris Eubank Jr, and has he seen the kind of stuff he might be up against some time in the future?