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You know what I get upset about on here? JuyJuy uploading all these old Eubank interviews and pics and so on. JuyJuy, God love 'im, doesn't seem to realise he's actually putting people OFF Eubank by saturating the board with talk about him.
Why this saddens is me is that it makes people hate Eubank when... he really WAS a damn good boxer.
There was speculation of Eubank's quote "big fish in a small pond", (referring to his never travelling to America) but I can see what he meant. In America, as a PERSONALITY, he would have to compete. For Eubank - and this is one reason boxing fans hate him - openly did boxing as a BUSINESS.
He had his fair share of substantial competition - Nigel Benn and, tragically, Michael Watson - and his personality more than raked it in. Why travel and possibly get robbed when you can stay in your own country and earn cash with people who know you?
Eubank used to be so hated for his ring persona that I once came out of a club after Eubank-Benn II (which was showing in pubs all over England - unthinkable now) with gangs shouting "Eubank is a wanker!" I was tempted to shout "so's Nigel Benn" but it could have meant being hospitalised, so great was the passion against the man.
But what was he like as a BOXER? Man, he was GOOD. REALLY. I know you must hate hearing JuyJuy telling you this seven days a week, but he REALLY was. In his autobiography (released probably around 2003, cetainly before Roy's fall from grace) he speculated over whether he could have beaten Roy if they had met. "I doubt it" he honestly admitted. But is beating Roy what it takes? And it was still no means certain.
This guy had strength, punching power, a chin to die for, and - most of all - he was SMART. He was no clubbing monster, he was a real boxer's boxer, who used intelligent ringcraft and used a perception of arrogance to make the public hate him... and therefore pay a fortune in the hope of seeing him get knocked out.
Up to 1994 he was 41 wins, two draws, with a decent 19 KOs. It was only towards the end of his career that he picked up five losses, including two from Carl Thompson when he foolishly (though commendably) decided to try moving up to Cruiserweight.
On another thread someone joked about Eubank fighting "bums". If only for the two names I mentioned earlier - Benn and Watson - then Eubank didn't fight bums.
I don't really feel I've done this guy justice at all, it's late, I'm rambling. But I just wanted to say... he really was a great boxer.
Why this saddens is me is that it makes people hate Eubank when... he really WAS a damn good boxer.
There was speculation of Eubank's quote "big fish in a small pond", (referring to his never travelling to America) but I can see what he meant. In America, as a PERSONALITY, he would have to compete. For Eubank - and this is one reason boxing fans hate him - openly did boxing as a BUSINESS.
He had his fair share of substantial competition - Nigel Benn and, tragically, Michael Watson - and his personality more than raked it in. Why travel and possibly get robbed when you can stay in your own country and earn cash with people who know you?
Eubank used to be so hated for his ring persona that I once came out of a club after Eubank-Benn II (which was showing in pubs all over England - unthinkable now) with gangs shouting "Eubank is a wanker!" I was tempted to shout "so's Nigel Benn" but it could have meant being hospitalised, so great was the passion against the man.
But what was he like as a BOXER? Man, he was GOOD. REALLY. I know you must hate hearing JuyJuy telling you this seven days a week, but he REALLY was. In his autobiography (released probably around 2003, cetainly before Roy's fall from grace) he speculated over whether he could have beaten Roy if they had met. "I doubt it" he honestly admitted. But is beating Roy what it takes? And it was still no means certain.
This guy had strength, punching power, a chin to die for, and - most of all - he was SMART. He was no clubbing monster, he was a real boxer's boxer, who used intelligent ringcraft and used a perception of arrogance to make the public hate him... and therefore pay a fortune in the hope of seeing him get knocked out.
Up to 1994 he was 41 wins, two draws, with a decent 19 KOs. It was only towards the end of his career that he picked up five losses, including two from Carl Thompson when he foolishly (though commendably) decided to try moving up to Cruiserweight.
On another thread someone joked about Eubank fighting "bums". If only for the two names I mentioned earlier - Benn and Watson - then Eubank didn't fight bums.
I don't really feel I've done this guy justice at all, it's late, I'm rambling. But I just wanted to say... he really was a great boxer.
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