Fight Pick & Preview – Saunders vs. Eubank Jr:
Billy Joe Saunders (20-0, 11KOs) and Chris Eubank (18-0, 13KOs) have little time to waste. Both men are 25 years of age, both are undefeated in their professional careers and they have a mutual disregard for one another. It is in these conditions that the pair meet on November 29th, on the undercard to another big British rivalry bout, Tyson Fury vs Dereck Chisora II.
Saunders vs Eubank has captured the attention in Britain. It’s a domestic grudge match between two fighters who are each still unbeaten and with their best years ahead of them. Here we preview the fight, breaking each man down by their physical, mental and technical characteristics, before predicting the outcome.
Physical
Billy Joe Saunders has more than proved his fitness, having gone the 12 round distance five times. In the process he has had to gut out some difficult spells, as he did in fights with fellow domestic rivals John Ryder and Nick Blackwell, though in riding such waves he is a better fighter.
Showing the capacity for such endurance can be considered particularly beneficial for a boxer who has stiff but not explosive punching power. Saunders cannot rely on blasting through his opponents, and so the ability and willingness to outwork them over 12 tough sessions is a crucial trait.
His opponent in this latest domestic clash of young up-and-comers, Chris Eubank Jr., has a record that suggests, at least on paper, a strong punch. The son of a British boxing legend, Eubank has earned 10 stoppage wins in succession after beginning his paid career with a conspicuous lack of stoppages and knockouts.
The quality of his opposition must be considered a factor in order to contextualize Eubank’s greater percentage of early victories in comparison to Saunders, who has fought at a far higher level. Nonetheless, Eubank clearly possesses great levels of athleticism. His fast hands have been evident thus far and they will present Saunders with a new problem to deal with.
Mental
Saunders’ trainer Jimmy Tibbs has likened his fighter’s preparation for this fight as similar to Nigel Benn’s prior to his fight with Mauro Galvano. Benn was renowned for his relentless work ethic and he too was famously entangled in a rivalry with a Eubank. This may be waxing lyrical, but it wouldn’t surprise were it to be close to the truth, given Saunders’ distaste for Eubank’s attitude.
Earlier this year, Eubank failed to show for a press conference with Saunders as they planned to discuss their respective fights and build their rivalry. It was seen as a disrespectful gesture by Saunders, who has long felt Eubank is not on his level anyway. It would seem then that Saunders has a genuine personal dislike of Eubank, perhaps more than vice versa. It will be fascinating to see how Saunders fights given such lingering resentment.
This ill-feeling has probably not been helped by Eubank’s brash, cocksure behavior, both in and out of the ring. His father was generally viewed as arrogant in his fighting days, mainly because of the monocle-wearing and in-ring posing, and Eubank appears to have carried some of that manner into his own career. Staring down cameras after knocking out opponents, silently looking into the crowd and unorthodox in-ring movements have no doubt helped build Eubank into a credible opponent for Saunders.
The question is: how will such confidence manifest itself in such a big fight? Eubank has never experienced an occasion like this in his career, nor has he fought anyone near the class of Saunders. Undoubtedly, this is a giant leap forward in quality for him, and it is only now that we will see exactly how much substance lies behind his style.
Technical
The difference in styles only adds to the excitement ahead of this fight as Saunders – a southpaw boxer-puncher, goes up against Eubank – an unorthodox stylist with an orthodox stance.
Saunders’ southpaw stance is supplemented by precise punching. His low held hands are capable of piercing opponents’ guards with accuracy and timing. In his last fight a counter right hook exemplified this, effectively finishing off Emanuele Blandamura. Saunders amateur background has clearly played a vital role in allowing him to hone an aesthetic offensive arsenal, one capable of unloading frequent combinations.
His lateral movement is critical in getting Saunders out of tight spots, as he whizzes off in different directions to avoid incoming attacks. Occasionally Saunders lapses during fights, sometimes moving back in straight lines and lying on the ropes, but this often appears more due to fatigue than any technical deficiency.
Eubank has dazzled thus far with audacious combinations featuring punches most fighters wouldn’t dare throw. That, however, is perhaps easier to do when up against men who simply don’t match up to you in skill set. He has, however, mixed up ripping hooks and uppercuts with greater craft as his career has gone on. In doing so, Eubank seems to be adding intelligence to the flashiness.
Indeed it is this intelligence that will be required against Saunders, who has dealt with boxers, pressure-fighters and stiff punchers with comfort in the past. Eubank will have to mix up his attacking forays, something which he appears quite adept in doing, to ensure he doesn’t allow for a predictable rhythm – something Saunders feasts on.
Saunders vs. Eubank Prediction
Eubank will carry his confidence into the beginning of this bout, attacking Saunders from the outset by moving in and out at speed. He will trouble Saunders with his hand speed and surprise with his strength when on the inside.
After four rounds, Saunders will begin to adjust to the task presented to him. Timing Eubank’s onrushes, Saunders will be buoyed and engage in a fight with his less experienced foe. Increased confidence, along with his dislike for Eubank, will bring out the spite in Saunders down the stretch – at a time when others may tire. Catching a fatigued and demoralize Eubank repeatedly, the referee will preclude the fight in Saunders’ favor around the 10th round.
Billy Joe Saunders by 10th round TKO
