Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, has criticised Roy Jones Jr as a trainer in light of Chris Eubank Jr’s knockout loss to Liam Smith last weekend.
Jones and Eubank first linked up in March 2020 and ahead of his fight with Smith, the Brit won both fights under the guidance of the former four-weight world champion against Wanik Awdijan and Liam Williams respectively.
However, last Saturday, ‘Beefy’ handed the 33-year-old the first stoppage defeat of his career with a brutal knockout in the fourth round.
Following the fight, Hearn has questioned Roy Jones’ influence and described Eubank’s defence as ‘novicey’, but admitted that recent issues in Eubank’s personal life may have played a part in a disappointing display, he told iFL TV.
“Eubank [Jr] has never been great, but what he has always had is a fearless mentality, a great chin and a great engine. What he has done with Roy Jones [Jr] is completely take all of those assets away and try and build things that he [Eubank] either hasn’t got or isn’t capable of having.”
“It was so novicey, in terms of defence, going back in straight lines with his chin up in the air. He looked lost. Even in the ringwalk. He has this unbelievable aura, Junior, and I felt for him, because I feel like he has had a lot of things happen in his life, unfortunate things. I think sometimes we don’t realise how difficult it has been for him, it must have been, to deal with those things.”
Despite what was described by Eubank as a ‘one-in-a-lifetime’ punch, his promotional team are considering an appeal to the British Boxing Board of Control over an alleged elbow that was supposedly thrown during the combination. A claim which Liam Smith has since laughed at.
If anything, the appeal does add a new element to the rematch involving the pair, which Smith has confirmed a deadline for, and will only add to the build-up of what should be another exciting all-British affair between the two rivals.
In an Instagram post, he tagged Eddie Hearn and said:
““Warning!!!! All boxers!!!!! Avoid Roy Jones Jr as a trainer! Never mind this elbow… Just avoid him.”
