Chris Eubank Jr heaped praise on recent rival Liam Smith for taking his beating like a man but was critical of some others in the game.
Earlier this month, Eubank Jr claimed his revenge on Liam Smith in conclusive fashion. The rematch was made after Smith became the first man to drop and stop Junior. Smith walked away as a comfortable winner from their first fight but the second one played out very differently. Smith appeared to be hampered by an injury but despite this, Chris Eubank Jr was superb. Keeping to his game plan perfectly and out-boxing Smith throughout.
Liam Smith was dropped on two separate occasions during the fight and took significant punishment over the 10 rounds before the referee stepped in to stop the fight. Something which Chris Eubank Jr puts high praise on, which is more than he can say for others.
Chris Eubank Jr on Quitters
Speaking in an interview to IFL TV, Eubank Jr gave credit to his old rival. “His team didn’t throw in the towel even though he was losing every round. He stayed in there and took his beating like a man. A lot of fighters these days, they aren’t willing to do that. If the fight isn’t going their way, they’re done. Get me out of here coach.”
Eubank Jr proceeded to call out heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Dave Allen, along with former foe, Billy Joe Saunders.
“Saunders did it (against Canelo). Dubois did it (against Joyce and Usyk). A lot of fighters have done it. A guy did it on the same night, on the undercard. The White Rhino (Dave Allen) quit on his stool (against Frazer Clarke). People get upset, ‘Oh you shouldn’t say that’. Listen, I’m a fighter, I can say what I want. I do it, get in there and I fight and I don’t stop. I take a shot (and) I get up. I’m buzzed and I keep walking forward. Let me keep going, because I’ve done that I can talk on other guys”.
Chris Eubank Jr’s Mentality
Eubank Jr is referencing his first fight with Liam Smith, where despite being dropped heavily on two occasions, he was able to get back to his feet, with the intent to fight on. In the end, his corner threw in the towel and Smith was declared the victor.
Eubank continued, “The mentality I had, the mentality Liam had, that’s what true fighters should have. We owe it to the fans to give everything we’ve got and more importantly than that, you owe it to yourself. When you’re old, watching the replay of a fight, you’ve got to watch yourself not wanting to be there. You’ve got to live with that until you die.”
All quotes originated from BoxingScene.com
Does Eubank Jr Have a Point?
I think what is important to consider here, is that each individual case is different. Does Eubank Jr have a point? Absolutely he does. There is no doubt that the fighters he listed, quit. Dubois, did quit against Joyce and then again against Usyk. Saunders did quit against Canelo and Allen did quit against Clarke.
For a fan of the sport and somebody with no respect for the athletes, you could say that the above scenarios make those athletes ‘quitters’. I am not a professional boxer, being punched repeatedly by another professional boxer, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to really label anybody as being a ‘quitter’.
Do I think that Chris Eubank Jr coming out and labelling fighters as ‘quitters’ helps the sport? No, I don’t. We all love to see bravery, toughness and durability. It’s a big part of why we tune in. Let’s stop for a minute though and consider the ‘Why’.
Why Do Fighters Quit?
Why would a fighter quit? Well, it’s simple really. They are being hurt, repeatedly, by somebody who they clearly feel is superior to them. They are trying to fight back but they just can’t. Should they try? Absolutely, but at what cost?
I think that we are too quick to judge fighters for ‘quitting’. Sure, from an image and a reputational point of view, it’s going to hurt your career. Is that worth losing an eye? Is that worth sustaining life-altering injuries, or worse, is it worth losing your life?
These are all very real possibilities in this sport. So please, whether you believe it or not, let’s try to think twice before we label any professional fighter, a quitter.
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
