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I saw lots of Eubank and his teflon chin (attached to a monster neck) served him particularly well and he often won fights because he did not even blink when hit flush and that dispirited a great deal of opponents.
Eubank often looked beatable during title fights through a lack of work-rate and because he did not like busy, bustling fighters. But his chin never, ever really let him down.
The obvious examples to pick are Eubank's fights with Benn.
Benn was at his most vicious/explosive when they first 'collided' in Birmingham but as you watch the fight unfold, with Eubank taking shots, you can almost see Benn starting to get frustrated/annoyed by the way his best work is not doing much more than putting the odd, small dent in Chris.
The second fight in Manchester was more tactical but Eubank is hit again and is able to take the best Benn unleashes; which was still plenty. When you recall what Benn could did to DeWitt, Barkley, McCellan et al...Eubank's chin suddenly begins to look epic.
Subsequent fights with Wharton, who could really dig and probably had better single shot power than Benn (without the ability to land so often or sustain his attacks) and also standing up to a big-punching cruiserweight like Carl Thompson (who ko'd Haye) are also impressive.
Calzaghe (without hand problems) hit an ageing Eubank cold and flush in their fight but Eubank gets up and gives Joe a nod of his head and gets straight back into the fight. Important point here is that Calazaghe was a proper puncher at this point and was not plagued by hand problems.
Eubank's chin is not the absolute best; but during his era there were few guys with a better jaw or a neck that had been borrowed from a bull!
Eubank often looked beatable during title fights through a lack of work-rate and because he did not like busy, bustling fighters. But his chin never, ever really let him down.
The obvious examples to pick are Eubank's fights with Benn.
Benn was at his most vicious/explosive when they first 'collided' in Birmingham but as you watch the fight unfold, with Eubank taking shots, you can almost see Benn starting to get frustrated/annoyed by the way his best work is not doing much more than putting the odd, small dent in Chris.
The second fight in Manchester was more tactical but Eubank is hit again and is able to take the best Benn unleashes; which was still plenty. When you recall what Benn could did to DeWitt, Barkley, McCellan et al...Eubank's chin suddenly begins to look epic.
Subsequent fights with Wharton, who could really dig and probably had better single shot power than Benn (without the ability to land so often or sustain his attacks) and also standing up to a big-punching cruiserweight like Carl Thompson (who ko'd Haye) are also impressive.
Calzaghe (without hand problems) hit an ageing Eubank cold and flush in their fight but Eubank gets up and gives Joe a nod of his head and gets straight back into the fight. Important point here is that Calazaghe was a proper puncher at this point and was not plagued by hand problems.
Eubank's chin is not the absolute best; but during his era there were few guys with a better jaw or a neck that had been borrowed from a bull!
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