STYLE ICON Eubank Jr wants to look the part
CHRIS OF DEATH: Eubank Jr throws a left hand at Matt Korobov CHRIS EUBANK JR wants to keep on winning – and is determined to look good doing so.
The interim WBA champ has IBF king Gennady Golovkin and WBC strap holder Jermall Charlo firmly in his sights for when boxing returns after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
And Eubank, who won the interim title in December with a second-round TKO against Matt Korobov, is desperate to reach the top in style.
His father, of course, was known for his showmanship in the ring but while he is an obvious influence on the middleweight champion’s life, Eubank Jr also draws the inspiration for “that extra sauce” from a vast array of fighters – including mixed martial arts specialist and film star Bruce Lee.
He said: “Bruce Lee was a bad, bad man. His character and his style is something that inspires everybody I think, especially fighters.
“Everybody wants to have that wow factor. Bruce Lee was really the first one to introduce style when fighting, to look good.
“I used to watch a lot of kung fu movies when I was a kid and he was definitely one of my favourites. Jackie Chan, too – old school. But Bruce was more than merely an action hero – he did it for real.
“He definitely inspired me to look good when I fight, have that extra sauce about my fighting technique, not just to go in there and fight but to look good while doing it.”
After a punishing defeat to George Groves early in 2018 – just the second of his pro career – Eubank Jr has rebuilt himself with three wins in a row, including one over fellow Brit James DeGale in February last year, before the victory over Korobov in New York.
That catapulted Eubank Jr, 30, back into contention but he insists it isn’t down to luck, it’s purely hard work.
He added: “To be successful you have to sacrifice.
“This means friends, family, Christmas, birthdays, you have to be prepared to live a life of solitude. It means putting yourself first. It means you have to do what you have to in order to be the best fighter you can be.
“And a lot of the times it means having to single yourself out from what normal people in your life are doing.”
But the biggest attribute needed to succeed at the highest level? Eubank Jr is in no doubt.
He said: “A lot of people think that in order to be a great boxer you need to be strong, fast and fit – that’s far from the truth.
“The guy who is the strongest guy in the world, if he doesn’t have the mental will to win and to stick in there when the going gets tough, a guy with less physical attributes will beat him if he has the right mental approach.
“Being mentally strong and tough is one of the most important attributes to have if you want to be a great fighter.”
DAILY STAR SUNDAY, May 3, 2020
‘To be successful you have to sacrifice’