It’s been a tough week for Chris Eubank Jr.
After the hype and trash talk, the boxing world unleashed its brutal verdict following Eubank’s loss to George Groves in Manchester. Junior lost his IBO title, his place in the tournament and his status as a potential world title contender.
Everyone has shared their honest and somewhat ruthless opinions and Eddie Hearn was no different on Wednesday at the Bellew-Haye press conference.
“He will never win a world title if he doesn’t change his approach. He’s not good enough. He’s tough, he’s got an unbelievable punch output. But he’s been brought up, like me, in a silver spoon in his mouth. To have that toughness is admirable because that toughness normally comes from someone from the street,” said Hearn Boxing Social.
The promoter then labeled Junior as an ‘internet fighter.’
“Have you seen his sparring? He’s never had world level sparring. It’s just a case of get someone into bash up and let’s hit this bag on Instagram. He’s an internet fighter,” he said.
Notable trainer Adam Booth trained Chris Eubank back in 2015 but the pair eventually went different ways and Hearn believes that was the biggest mistake of all.
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“Probably the worst mistake they ever made was to get rid of Adam Booth. Surely senior [Christopher Eubank] knows enough about the game. It’s not me saying it, it’s everybody who knows anything about boxing saying it. We can’t all be wrong. It’s frustrating because he’s [Junior] got so many fundamentals of a great fighter, just technically he hasn’t,” explained Hearn.
Eubank is nearing his thirties and the latest outing against Groves did not do him any favours at all. The bubble has been burst according to the Matchroom promoter. “And it’s not like he’s at 18 or 16, he’s 28 coming on 29. I just feel like they never have a plan. They stumbled across the World Boxing Super Series and they’ve had a touch. They’ve made a lot of money but it’s another defeat and the bubble is burst. He’s not an elite world level fighter,” stated Hearn.
Eubank Jr suffered his first defeat against Billy Joe Saunders back in 2014 via split decision. Since then Saunders has achieved world champion elite level status – a level Hearn believes Eubank can never get to.
“Can he mix it at world class? Yeah, just through toughness and grit, but he can’t beat someone that moves their feet. Billy Joe Saunders now at this stage would school Chris Eubank Jr. He can only beat the right style at world level, anyone else he can’t. It’s just how it is,” he summarised.
READ MORE:
George Groves outsmarts Chris Eubank Jr in Manchester
The press reacts to Groves-Eubank
George Groves gives shoulder injury update
James DeGale, Amir Khan, Tony Bellew and others react to Groves’ win