Billy Joe Saunders – Chris Eubank, JR. Recap
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By Doctor Ibrahim Hussain
Seeing the name Chris Eubank stirred the emotions and memories of the golden years of British boxing, but the fight that was on the table almost 20 years after his father’s prime was a real throwback to the very best this country has to offer.
The Gypsy King of the lower weight divisions vs. the son of a British boxing legend – this match up had fighting blood flowing through its veins and was anything other than disappointment, unlike some of the other bouts last Saturday.
Although Billy Joe Saunders had the bookies odds in favor, and he was the opponent with a vastly superior amateur pedigree, Chris Eubank, JR. was also considered by many boxing aficionados to have a real punchers chance of ending the fight during its 12 scheduled rounds. However, after the first couple of rounds one could be expected to realize that boxing sense always points to the better amateur pedigree over a slugger with a punchers chance.
Chris Eubank, JR.returned nothing of value during the first 5 rounds which would give rise to doubt of the bookies belief of a dominant Saunders, but the later half of the fight would open up a whole new chapter in the fight, which would change the story like a Tsunami. Eubank unleashed a deadly assault for much of the second half of the fight, with each of the many uppercuts showing bad intent and often catching Saunders, who verified the legend of “nothing as hard as a Traveler’s Chin” being very true indeed.
The shots landed by Eubank would have put many of the current world level fighters within his weight class into limp-mode, but Saunders not only took the shots and showed superhuman powers of recovery, but kept coming back with meaningful counters and exemplary skills that were molded from his elite world level amateur experience and success.
Following the fight the gentleman that is Billy Joe Saunders gave due credit to the Eubank family and flatly offered a rematch when he becomes the holder of a legitimate boxing World Title, which he is certainly hovering the front of the queues for.
The final fight with Chisora and Fury was a real snoozer, and the two leading British heavyweights would be grateful to Eubank and Saunders for lighting up a night that otherwise ran way behind schedule and left many observers willing the next fight and close to the evenings events (which is why half the stadium was half empty during the Heavyweight clash, and maybe why Derek Chisora fought as though he was half asleep!). Further controversy arose after many fans were left without seating due to duplicate ticketing being sold, and also stranded spectators unable to get public transport due to the scheduled events running way behind time.
It was the Saunders-Eubank fight that saved the day.
What can be relied upon with more certainty is that Saunders will be World Champion, and the successful outcome of his fight with Eubank will be hopefully be a good enough motivating-factor in him always turning up to the square ring in the future in great shape, as he has often been criticized in the past for his fleshy appearance and fading in the later rounds.
As for Chris Eubank, JR.this fight has elevated him into another class of boxing, and again, I am certain he will be a world champion someday soon, albeit in the shadow of his father.
More exciting than all though, is the prospect of a rematch, and possibly one of British Boxing’s greatest rivalries with sequels that will match others from the golden age of boxing.
