Great Interview

**JUYJUY** · 05-24-2005, 06:29 PM

BM: So who else have you sparred?
CE: Many, I remember before I did any Golden Gloves I was sparring Alex Ramos and this was just before he left the Jerome club and won a National title soon after. But he would not remember me, I referred to myself as Livingstone. People thought my name was Livingstone until I did the Golden Gloves and they saw me listed as Chris Eubanks.

BM: So tell us about your amateur career...
CE: I did a few tournaments in 1984, that was it. I won the New York Golden Gloves and had Michael Gerald Tyson cheering me from ringside! Then I reached the semi-finals of the main Golden Gloves, and then I went on to win the Spanish Golden Gloves. I was a light-middleweight, I went under the name Chris Eubanks. This was before I changed my name to Chris Eubank. I had no real trainer, I just had myself and my experiences as a gymnasium fighter, that is all I had. My first real trainer was Ronnie Davies when I got back to England. I lost to Ron Esset at the Golden Gloves who went on to win the tournament, but I would later avenge that defeat in a World title fight in Portugal some eight years later.

BM: You knew Tyson?
CE: I knew Mike, yes, and still do. I stayed with him in New Jersey for a few weeks in 1985, we were both fighting at the Atlantis Casino. He was a charming chap believe it or not, he was well-manoured, friendly, bashful, and conducted himself well. I thought highly of him as a person back in those days, he struck me as being articulate with a lot of things he came out with. I felt he was philosiphical, sure he was from the streets but I felt he was trying to leave that behind.

BM: When did you turn professional?
CE: I don't really think of it like that. I had a few fights to pay my mothers bills, I didn't think about making a career of it at that point. I'd have boxing matches for some quick cash. I didn't take the sport seriously until maybe eight years after I started boxing, I didn't accept making a career out of it until 1989 when Barry Hearn sweet-talked me not to start concentrating on getting a degree but to concentrate on boxing instead, the first time I ever did roadwork in my life was 1990. I started boxing in 1982, so it took me a good eight years to get serious about it. My napoleonic strut was there early on though, it wasn't an act, I was assured, anti-anxious and adjectively attributed to arrogance. I remember back to when I won the Spanish Gloves, just after I won I remember Bob Arum offered me the chance to turn professional there and then, he told me that if I won my first five fights he'd get me a shot at a guy called David Braxton who held one of the National titles over there. I was impressed, but I told him that boxing was a mugs game and that I would only be performing my art in gymnasiums as a hobby to keep fit. I didn't see it as fighting, what I saw it as was an art that I enjoyed. I was just a gymnasium fighter in the 1980's, and abit of a narcissist which is why I wasn't too popular. I enjoyed guys wanting to cave my face in at the gymnasium because it made life easier for me. When you go out to hurt someone, it makes it easier for them and your losing already.

BM: You started your career in New Jersey though didn't you?
CE: Well not really, no. I had a few fights in a few years to pay some bills at certain points. I was mostly a gymnasium fighter, nothing else really. I started my career the night I beat Anthony Logan, it was only then that I realised I could make some money from this sport and do some things. It wasn't my particular craftsmanship that made me a household name, it was everything else that came with it. I think I did a good job making myself recognised and I think I was a good addition to British boxing and British celebrities, infact I know I was. Being eccentric or enigmatic or whatever you want to call me, even obnoxious, is a compliment.

BM: Steve Collins.
CE: The very first time that I went out to hurt my opponent was the first time that I lost. Before that, I had beaten everybody I had ever shared a ring with including amateurs, gymnasium and professional. I had beaten every human being I had ever shared a ring with. But then actually the first time that I ever went out to hurt my opponent, I was losing.

BM: Nigel Benn.
CE: Nigel who? Sorry, never heard of him. I won all my fights without breaking a sweat before fighting this fellow, he pounded me, pressured me and forced me to dig deep. And there was something about his punches, when contact was made you felt discomfort from his punches like no other, there was just something about his punches. He was the hardest hitter I fought, no question. But I wasn't just superior to him as a fighter in accordance to the trade, I was superior to him as a person. I had finer points than him both inside and outside of the squared circle.

BM: You never fought Roy Jones.
CE: I never fought Roy Jones.

BM: Why?
CE: Exactly. Why?

BM: So you ducked him?
CE: No. I didn't dodge anybody. I fought all of my mandatory contenders and how many others can say that? If Roy Jones had been my mandatoy, I would of fought him ofcourse.

BM: I heard that he was calling you out after your World title wins over Benn and Watson but you wouldn't give him a shot...
CE: He was just a kiddy, a contender, he wasn't a name back then and he wasn't my mandatory. I'm superior in some senses, because Roy Jones has never fought overseas in his entire career, whereas I fought overseas 14 times. I defended my World title all over the world and how many others can say that? My particular showmanship and the particular irritation that I shone off myself did attract a hostile atmosphere and I believe I responded to a hostile crowd. So there was no bother for me fighting in different countries, I was used to a hostile crowd from home anyway. I was public enemy number one back in the day. Anyway...

**JUYJUY** · 05-24-2005, 06:30 PM

BM: Switching from boxing to life in general. How would you describe your sartorial style?
CE: I would describe it as 19 World Championship wins. I'm not in a race or a competition with anyone else. As long as I'm not offending anyone then my dress sense should be my prerogative.

BM: When was the first time you cared about your clothes?
CE: When I was 11 years, three months and 16 days old... no that's just a guess. But when I was around 11, I looked at the older guys going to blues dances in Farrar slacks and bowler hats and thought they were given a deeper form of respect. It was in measure to how well they were dressed. What comes with this, though, is dignity. It isn't good enough just to be well dressed; you have to carry yourself well. The way you walk is even more important. You can tell by a man's gait whether he's proud of himself. I was born into poverty and nobody respected me when I was growing up, so I craved respect. All I ever wanted to do was to suck a silver spoon. But here I was, a thief, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana every day of my life, nowhere to live, very street-wise, and my only skills were fighting away bullies and being a masterful thief. I was very masterful at thiefing, probably the best around.

BM: And the turning point was when?
CE: Thankfully I had that opportunity to escape to New York with my mother after I was caught stealing suits. I quit smoking and drinking altogether then started going to church, I went to high school every day, went to the gymnasium every day. I got an education, then changed my name slightly to come back over here.

BM: First impressions on New York?
CE: It was very different. Guys called each other 'motherf***er' six or seven times a conversation. I didn't want to hear it. I told them if they ever referred to my mother in that manner I would end them. They never showed me that respect, so I became what I'd always been without knowing it: a loner.

BM: Your wife, Karron, was in the papers recently claiming you spend �2,700 on each suit, and �1,175 on jodhpurs. Can this be true?
CE: Well my wife is not a liar, so why is that you are asking me to confirm what she says? (Eubank laughs, Boxing Monthly doesn't). My answer is that my wife does not tell fibs. We never talk about money anyway, it's quite vulgar.

BM: Erm, we're not claiming she's a liar, but is it also true that your haircut costs you �250 and involves a barber flying down from Manchester?
CE: My wife does not tell fibs. He's been flying down, on average, about every 10 days for the last 10 years.

BM: That's a lot of money, about �100,000 by Boxing Monthly's reckoning. Have you ever tried a �3.50 cut at Mr Toppers?
CE: What do they do?

BM: Well, they cut. And they shave, if you want that kind of thing...
CE: You see that's just it. All these people cut, but what my barber does is sculpt. He sculpts and it takes him about an hour and a half.

BM: Have you ever fancied asking for a different style, perhaps a light perm, for example?
CE: No. I've been considering taking it all off. They say God gave very few men perfect heads, the rest he put hair on.

BM: And no doubt with one eye on his bank balance, your barber's advised against shaving it all off.
CE: He's swayed me from doing such a thing, yes. It's a wonderful day don't you think? Beautiful.

BM: It's not bad is it? What's the greatest song ever written?
CE: It depends on what mood you're in.

BM: And what's the greatest song ever written according to your current mood?
CE: (Sings) I'm... so in love with you... what ever you want me to... is all right with me-eee-eee-eee. Let me be the one you come running back to-ooo-ooo-ooo...

BM: Ah, Al Green, very nice. And the greatest film ever made?
CE: Once Upon A Time In The West. I'll watch that on average about once a month. The music is the most soothing of all soundtracks I've ever heard, and Charles Bronson is inspirational to the point of bliss. That harmonica and that very cool, laid-back gunslinger is just the best. He's the man!

BM: Him and Mandela. Why do you drive that dirty great truck when you could have yourself a flash motor?
CE: Because it has character and class. All cars have class, yes, but no car has as much character as my truck.

BM: But it can't be economical to run...
CE: Well as my father used to say, if you can afford the car you can afford the petrol.

BM: Must be a sod to park though...
CE: No it's quite easy, you have to park illegally. There's just no place you can park a 32ft truck, so you just leave it where you can.

BM: You must pick up parking tickets faster than The Gaffer!
CE: Well you know, we as entertainers have a duty to the public to keep them amused, and I am a consummate professional to the last.

BM: When was the last time you rode your Harley Davidson?
CE: Not for a while. It's the cream of capitalism. It's like Coca-Cola - the best of the best. There are certain things that have a priceless iconic measure. Fish and chips eaten with a knife and fork from a plate isn't. Eating them from the wrapper as you walk home is - that's the cream.

BM: Last time you shoplifted?
CE: When I got back to England in 1988. I stole things because I didn't have any money. After working in a Wimpy I got a job at Debenhams, where I ended up stealing trousers and shoes. The manager knew what I was up to and said: 'I think you're going to have to move on.' I saw her in a supermarket last year and persuaded her to let me pay for her shopping. I thanked her for not informing the police.

BM: I couldn't imagine you working in a Wimpy!
CE: I remember that I was having to fight at light-heavyweight at the time because I was aloud to eat that horses manure alday.

BM: Horses manure?
CE: Manure is the term used to refer to the droppings, dung, faeces or excrement of herbivores and poultry. Mammal droppings consist of large amounts of partially digested plant material broken down into small fragments. As the bacteria in their digestive systems are largely harmless to humans, this excrement is often used for fertilizer. That is an organic matter. But I was not referring to that. I was being rather sarcastic, rather hyperbole if you like, in referring to fast food.

BM: Thanks for your time Chris.
CE: It's always an absolute pleasure. Why thank you, thank you so much, thank you ever so much.

BM: Last thoughts?
CE: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.