Chris Eubank Jr can follow his father's path to a world title says trainer Ronnie Davies
Friday 18 December 2015 10:33, UK
Life with the Eubank family is never dull and Ronnie Davies has witnessed all the hype, hyperbole and physical hardship that has surrounded two generations of boxing champions.
The veteran trainer dished out stern advice and the occasional slap during Chris Eubank's eventful ring career and the 69-year-old now offers his wise instruction to another talented middleweight fighter, who shares his father's name and a few of his finest traits.
Chris Eubank Jr appears equally at home on a big stage and soaked up the adoration of the crowd, before and after his clinical stoppage win over Spike O'Sullivan at The O2.
Watching from O'Sullivan's corner was Steve Collins, who twice conquered Eubank Sr in the '90s, and the Collins training team had vowed to plot a third defeat on the family.
But Davies has heard these bold claims before and the latest mind games from Collins were greeted with a knowing chuckle.
"Everyone says that," Davies told Sky Sports. "When you get in with Eubank it's a different kettle of fish.
"He can fight all ways. He's very, very good young Chris and it will take someone special to beat him."
The 26-year-old could soon test himself against the world's best as his sweet win over O'Sullivan earned him a shot at WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs.
His father was two years younger when he lifted the WBO middleweight title in his 25th fight, but Jr could achieve this feat in fewer fights and Davies feels he can follow the same path.
"Chris was already world champion, he had won the world title at 24," said Davies. "He was a massive, strong man, mind and body - everything. He was a good fighter.
"Junior is equally as good, just a little slower coming along, which is not a bad thing."
Blessed with blurring handspeed, Eubank Jr can overwhelm opponents with a torrent of punches, but Davies and fellow trainer Adam Booth are hoping to instil some of the ferocious power that his father demonstrated during his lengthy reign as a champion.
If he gets that terrific strength which he is growing into now then he will be unstoppable I think, young Jr.
"Chris Jr is more busy, more fluent and probably faster, but Eubank Sr had that terrific strength," said Davies.
"If he gets that terrific strength which he is growing into now then he will be unstoppable I think, young Jr."
Eubank Jr displayed an icy focus in the build-up to his fight with O'Sullivan, calmly dissecting the Irishman during verbal sparring on The Gloves Are Off.
The senior Eubank, who has assumed the title 'English', shared a similar spite-filled rivalry with Nigel Benn and also relished such confrontations.
Davies said: "They are very similar, very strong-minded.
"They are both hard work, but that is probably why they are such good fighters because they have strong minds."
The flamboyant 49-year-old often shares the spotlight with Jr, even when he was about to make his ring walk, but 'English' had been absent for much of his son's training camp due to his appearance in reality programme I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.
His son prepared for O'Sullivan without the influence of his father, with some even suggesting that Eubank Jr would undergo a more efficient training camp under the watchful eye of Davies and new trainer Booth.
But Davies has revealed the unwavering respect between the pair and insists there is no better teacher than a former two-weight world champion, who has experienced the harsh reality of life inside the ropes.
"Yeah he always talks about him," said Davies. "I say, 'Look, the old man would have said this'. When we are in the gym and we're training I'll always quote him, because his father has been there.
"Don't forget Eubank has been in world title fights and you can have the best trainers out there, but you cannot beat experience and that is what Eubank Sr has from all of his world title fights.
"He knows what it takes to be a champion in life and that's what he is."
