With only days remaining until Groves vs Eubank Jr erupts in Manchester, it’s time to explore what Chris Eubank Jr has to offer in this intriguing WBSS Semi-Final. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our counterpart analysis, George Groves: Strengths & Weaknesses. The victor of Saturday’s clash will leave with Groves’ WBA title and of course proceed to the tournament’s finale where they’ll likely meet Callum Smith (who faces Juergen Braehmer on February 24).
Chris Eubank Jr
General Thoughts
Love him, hate him, or simply tolerate him, Chris Eubank Jr, son of British boxing legend Chris Eubank, is going places in boxing. He’s got the Eubank name in tow, an all-action style, plus the swag and flamboyance of his popular father. And with all that bubbling marketing juice, Eubank has the kind of mass appeal to have a very successful, lucrative career. However, while we know Eubank can deliver fireworks, we still don’t know where he truly is on the world stage. Enter George Groves…
Opposition Level
At first glance, the numbers suggest that Eubank (27 fights) should be more or less on par with Groves (30 fights) as far as experience is concerned. But that’s far from the truth. Though there is colour on Eubank’s record, there hasn’t been a whole lot of legitimate quality. Let’s check out his best opposition:
- Billy Joe Saunders (LOSS: SD 12) – This fight came a little early for the still-developing Eubank in my opinion, with Eubank being outboxed before closing well during the second half
- Dmitrii Chudinov (TKO) – Eubank didn’t look sensational against the lesser known brother of Fedor Chudinov (beaten by Groves), but forced a stoppage in the final stanza nonetheless
- Gary O’Sullivan (RTD 7) – O’Sullivan had his moments in this battle, but Eubank’s ferocity, superior class and high punch volume proved all too much en route to a punishing stoppage
- Renold Quinlan (TKO 10) – This name doesn’t belong here, but Eubank did pick up the IBO Super Middleweight belt in a beatdown that had no business being a world championship
- Arthur Abraham (UD 12) – This shutout victory should have earned Eubank respect, but, while Eubank did shine, the aging veteran Abraham seemed like a shell of his former self
- Avni Yildirim (TKO 3) – Eubank quickly tore apart the one-dimensional Yildirim in the WBSS Quarter-Final, with a flashy, brutal knockout whetting appetites for a Groves showdown
Strengths
- Fresher: Eubank, 28, though only a year younger than Groves, has fewer miles on the clock and seems like the far fresher fighter, mainly because he’s yet to suffer any notable adversity in the ring
- Work Rate/Speed: Eubank is one of the fastest Super Middleweights around right now, and his high-octane, swarming, volume punching can quickly overwhelm opponents
- Athleticism/Stamina: Eubank, despite his high work rate, appears to have a big 12-round engine, something clearly witnessed against Arthur Abraham
- Pressure/Inside Game: Eubank is known for letting the leather fly in very close quarters, punishing his opponents with blistering assaults, including repeated gnarly uppercuts
- Risk-Taker: This could also be considered a weakness, but Eubank’s tendency to surprise with brazen, unconventional assaults/movements, makes him edgy, dangerous and unpredictable
Weaknesses
- Movers: It’s possible that Eubank may have patched up this flaw, but we have to consider that mobile boxers, such as conqueror Billy Joe Saunders, could spell trouble for Eubank
- Lack of Experience: Though not a deciding factor against Groves, Eubank’s lack of legitimate threats faced – at Middleweight (24 Fights) and Super Middle (3 fights) – can’t be overlooked
- Defensive Holes: It’s true that Eubank seems to be tightening his overall game, but there’s been plenty of times when his chin’s been a big bullseye while unloading/trading big shots
Big Questions
- Is Eubank the real deal or just a well-marketed, carefully matched product?
- Can Eubank hang tough with a proven, technically refined boxer like Groves?
- Is the leaner, narrower Eubank, who spent most of his career at Middleweight, ‘physically’ strong enough to handle himself at the Super Middleweight deep end? And how will he react to Groves’ heavy artillery?
- Can Eubank handle the pressure in the biggest fight of his career, with the WBSS tournament, the Eubank legacy, a clothing line, plus a lucrative future with the ITV network all on the line?
Conclusion
Eubank Jr is the fresher, perhaps hungrier dog trying to take a bite out of the wily veteran in Groves. And with the stylistic differences at play, this could potentially be a spectacular fight. With so many questions surrounding Eubank, it’s hard to say with any certainty what he’s capable of doing at this level, what he might do, and even what he should do.
Based on what we’ve seen, though, I’d say his job is not to box cute, but to intelligently take the fight to Groves, making him uncomfortable and ultimately breaking him down to a bruising decision or late knockout. Eubank appears to have the tank and athleticism to do that. However, Groves will no doubt be expecting such an aggressive approach, hoping that Eubank over commits, becomes reckless, or simply underestimates him. Eubank will be meeting a smart technician, and for that reason needs to be smart himself.
What’s your two cents on Groves vs Eubank Jr? Will Groves’ vast experience in the Super Middleweight arena lead to a place in the WBSS final? Or will Eubank, the hungry lion with a huge opportunity before him, claim the biggest scalp of his career?
