Ray Close [Archive] - Boxing Forum

Gerry M

02-24-2007, 01:45 AM

He was a good amateur, beating guys like Dariusz Michalczewski and Fabrice Tiozzo before turning pro (he lost in the first fight at the Junior World's in '87 though, like Roy Jones did that year at the weight below, and lost at the Olympic Trials). But didn't show the same form in the pro's, shaky chin and pitter-patter punches, his European title shot came out of the blue (he was expecting a British title shot) but he did much better than expected against Nicotra who was #1 contender for the world title and then beat Nardiello on a controversial cuts stoppage to set-up the Eubank fight.

People thought he was way over his head fighting Eubank, and that he was being used as lamb to the slaughter for Eubank to stop him impressively before finally getting it on with the likes of Benn, Nunn and Toney. However, Close suprised himself and everyone else by living with Eubank with his light flurries and workrate, countering Eubank's overhand right with three or four punches and out-hussling the champ in a lot of the rounds.

Until.. Eubank found a six-inch right uppercut in round 11 while his back was against the ropes and while Close's head was sunk in his chest - it almost took Close's head clean off the way Eubank dipped at the knees and came up with it, he just pushed Close off him slightly and then WHAM, the uppercut came with no backpull. How Close managed to get up from that at the count of nine is a mystery, and why the referee allowed him to continue is even more of a mystery. Anyway it saved Eubank's beloved title.

Close was mandatory again and the rematch came a year later in Eubank's last fight on ITV. Don King had been screwed by Eubank and Barry Hearn after the Benn fight, and joined forces with Frank Warren and they hooked up with Ray Close. Close and his people thought he was robbed against Eubank in Glasgow.

King made sure he won the purse bids for Eubank's rematch with Close and made sure it was staged in Close's backyard at the King's Hall in Belfast, and with Eubank on the very verge of securing a £10million 'World Tour' with Sky Sports, King wanted to try to make sure Eubank lost which would wreck his big plans.

King, along with Frank Warren (who also hated Eubank and Barry Hearn), tried bribing the judges with five-star hotels and made sure Eubank had no ice or towels in his changing room (which was a cramped disabled toilet). They even paid a Leprechaun to throw dust/sparkly **** over Eubank's back beforehand to try to unsettle him.. fight was held up for around 15 mins because they had to brush it all off Eubank and sweep it all out of the ring. I'll never forget King and Warren that night, roaring exaggerated approval if Close landed a punch and punching the air after every round - just to try to sway the judges. Eubank had refused to do any of his usual publicity work for the fight (ie trying to make King and Warren as little money as possible). It was all very political, business-esque, and egotistical. Funny stuff.

Anyway, Eubank was absolutely awful that night at the King's Hall - extremely slow, sloppy, scrappy, and unbelievably lazy. But managed to win because Close was coming at him in straight line and Eubank was able to land a few big shots here and there which slowed Close down for the last third or last quarter of the fight where Eubank turned up the heat.

There was a lot of controversy with the scoring, with King saying "The WBO should be barred from boxing" and Warren saying "They need to ban Eubank from boxing, this is hideous".

Close was all set for a third fight with Eubank at the King's Hall for Feb 11 '95 on Eubank's so-called World Tour (eight fights in 12 months for £10mill, unless he lost one), he was mandatory again but failed a brain scan and had his license taken away by the BBBC.