Billy Joe Saunders has very little nice to say about his former opponent Chris Eubank Jr, and believes him adding David Haye to his training team is pointless.
Saunders and Eubank faced off in 2014 – a split decision for the former – and a decade long beef was born that still sizzles until this day despite both men being on different paths.
Whilst Billy Joe considers a ring return following a 2021 loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, Eubank is in the process of dealing with the first stoppage loss of his career at the hands of Liam Smith.
He is keen to reverse that result to pursue a world title in the near future. Speaking to IFL TV, Saunders reiterated his past belief that Eubank would never be a top champion.
“It’s a rebuilding process and the age of him at the moment – what is he 33? Not world champion, never ever will lift a world title, that’s for sure. I’ve said that from day one. He hasn’t got the IQ to be world champion.”
As for the news that David Haye was the latest addition to the Brighton man’s team, ‘BJS’ believes it will make little difference.
“What’s David Haye gonna do with him? David Haye’s gonna do absolutely nothing with him … David Haye, Roy Jones Jr – what are they gonna learn him? His own Dad couldn’t learn him. If someone hasn’t got it, they haven’t got it.”
In fact, Saunders isn’t confident that Eubank can do anything to win or improve, believing he’s at a stage now where he could be in line for plenty of losses.
“What he fails to realise now is that he’s been boiling his body down to 11 stone 6. That takes it out of him. He’s 33 years old, he hasn’t got the engine he used to have and he hasn’t got a boxing brain now. So he’s slowed down. People who are not on world level will start having a chance against him.”
Eubank’s team haven’t announced his next move following the most recent postponement of the Smith rematch.
Smith’s promoter, Ben Shalom, is confident it goes ahead in August, but there have been rumblings that the Conor Benn fight may be revisited instead.