Dominic Ingle, trainer of Kell Brook, has had his say on Chris Eubank Jr’s future after suffering a knockout loss to Liam Smith.
Smith upset the odds against Eubank Jr by producing a sensational early stoppage, leaving the Brighton man’s career hanging in the balance.
Although he has a rematch clause to activate if he so chooses, Ingle believes that Eubank is now done in the sport. He told Boxing King Media that the loss was too hard to come back from.
“Chris Eubank is the name. He’s always been the name. He’s the pantomime villain … but that’s the end of him, I think. He’s not going to come back from that.”
“He made the big shouts. He boxed a guy who’s always been a smaller guy than him – and a smaller guy’s beat him … He’s had his chance.”
It turns out that it seemed only a Eubank win would do so, as Ingle said the Smith fight likely doesn’t have enough to get his fighter going.
“I wouldn’t be interested in that fight. Not because I don’t think Kell can beat him. It’s a tough fight – don’t forget I’ve seen them spar each other. Liam’s a tough kid, he’s not intimidated by anybody. He can’t be – he’s been in with some of the best.
But it’s not really a fight that Kell needs to have. It’s probably not interesting enough for Kell, because Kell does have to have a bit of malice in things. He’s got to have a grudge now at the age. There’s got to be something more than money and winning to motivate him. It’s got to be a personal thing – that’s why he worked so well against Amir Khan.
Ingle then went on to name another opponent that Brook would want to face – Conor Benn.
When I’ve had talks with Kell, he’s said the fights that really interest me is Conor Benn, because he’s Nigel Benn’s lad and he’s got this name of being a big puncher and they sparred together … I think that would be a more interesting fight for Kell depending on how it works with Conor Benn.”
Ingle also said that if there’s interest from Manny Pacquiao, which he believes there may be, that would also motivate Brook for a ring return.
Whatever happens, it seems that Ingle is confident of the domestic scene losing a name in Eubank but regaining one in Brook.