Junior is not a boxer and needs to improve dramatically, says Bellew
Former world champion Tony Bellew has told Chris Eubank Jr he needs to jettison his father and work on his skill-set if he is to recover from the comprehensive defeat he suffered at the hands of George Groves on Saturday night.
Eubank, who has been training himself, was outclassed by Groves, with former featherweight champion ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed even going as far as to say he should consider retirement immediately behave cause “he does not have the ability to box”. Bellew did not go that far but he was one of a number of fighters who urged the 28-year-old to return to middleweight and dispense with the services of his father if he is to develop from “a brawler to a boxer”.
“It was clear that Eubank was getting no advice in the corner – he looked raw and a novice, a bull in a china shop,” said former cruiserweight champion Bellew. “He’s just a fighter, not a boxer and this sport is called boxing for a reason.
“It is an art. I don’t see Eubank progressing unless he changes things up dramatically. He also needs to go back down to middleweight because he lacks power at super middleweight.”
Another former world cruiserweight champion Glenn Mccrory, insisted Eubank “has all the physical attributes but must get a trainer if he is to progress in the sport”.
“There has been all this nonsense that Chris has been training himself,” said Mccrory. “There are certain things boxers need, and that includes their team around them. Yes, the fighter does the fighting, but the trainer is crucial. He is a trusted member in the boxer’s corner, and another pair of eyes.”
Yet Eubank remained defiant yesterday. “It was a war,” he said on social media. “Two fighters putting it all on the line for a shot at glory is what boxing is all about. It was close and I feel I was the more aggressive, busier fighter, but George was smart and stuck in there to show the heart of a true champion.
“There’s a lot to learn from the fight and I will go away and work on things. I know I can do better. Good luck to George in the final. I’ll be back sooner than you think.”