Imagine your father wore a monacle, drove a juggernaut, liberally quoted Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’, carried a cane and had a penchant for equestrian chic.
Then imagine he was a former middleweight and super middleweight champion while you too held aspirations of a career in the ring. It can’t always have been easy being Chris Eubank Junior.
At the time of his birth his famous dad was 18-0, the same record he will take into his British grudge match with European middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders on November 29.
It’s a resume which sounds better than it actually is. Most of Junior’s 18 victories came handing out spiteful beatings to hopelessly overmatched foes using the pain game to pick up a pay cheque.
Indeed, Saunders represents such a leap in quality it is still hard to believe the fight has been made. Then again, a Eubank is never lacking in confidence.
Most are desperately hoping he will lose, and it’s a scenario his father will remember well.
Chris Eubank Senior went 43 fights before the British public were finally assuaged in their burning desire to see him humbled.
And it was only some time after that defeat to Steve Collins – and his hypnotist – when cast as a valiant loser in losses to Joe Calzaghe and Carl Thompson twice, that his wider public perception softened.
Now, almost two decades on, his eponymous offspring is doing his best to mimic many of his traits – playing the pantomime villain being chief among them.
He is yet to be photographed in jodphurs, but he vaults the top rope to enter the ring, walks out to Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best’ and prowls the ring flashing the same dismissive sneer.
But while the elder Eubank’s hubris was embellished with a theatric flair, charisma seems an alien concept to Junior. Perhaps his father was so enamoured with his own endearing quirks he didn’t feel like sharing.
However, more pertinently as far as his career is concerned, he has inherited the trademark Eubank athleticism and, if recent outings are a barometer, also his punching power. Still, though, his rivals aren’t impressed. Overrated, privileged, protected, hyped or just “s***”, as Saunders offered in what was probably his kindest assessment of his next opponent.
Eubank Senior tells a different story. His bluster has included claims his son will be better than Floyd Mayweather – with whom he has trained – and that he could already beat everyone from 160 to 168 pounds, bar Andre Ward.
Back in the gym today getting ready for Average Joe on Nov 29. He’ll soon find out that im so much more than what he bargained 4 #TeamEubank
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) October 26, 2014
First he needs to worry about Saunders – a slick operator with an impressive amateur background who has beaten a far higher level of competition.
The former Olympian has more experience and has gone 12 rounds in his last five outings.
Eubank has never even been in a bout slated for 12 sessions. That said, Saunders is on the brink of the moving on to world level and defeat here would be a major, if not insurmountable, setback.
The risks are obvious on either side, both are 25, unbeaten and their mutual dislike is abundantly clear. It’s a contest which promises a great deal, with the added bonus that it will make up for the inevitable clinch fest between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora which is masquerading as the main event on the London card.
Such is Saunders’ distaste for his opponent he has claimed he will retire if he loses. If he is forced to retract that foolish statement then it might just prove the second coming of Eubank is to be taken seriously.
