Chris Eubank Jr. Ready to Step out of the Shadows of His Father's Legacy

Chris Eubank Jr. was always going to have to work hard to climb out of his famous father’s shadow. Now, though, he’s decided to embrace the past and follow in his dad’s footsteps.

The middleweight's decision to join Matchroom's stable of fighters sees the Hearn and Eubank families back in business together.

The partnership between Barry Hearn and Chris Eubank certainly worked wonders for both men in the 1990s. Eubank was a two-weight world champion who enjoyed celebrity status, crossing into the mainstream consciousness with his love of long words, unusual forms of transport and unique dress sense.

Now their sons—Eddie Hearn and Eubank Jr.—will be hoping they, too, can form a successful promoter-fighter partnership.

The foundation is there for Hearn to build on. Eubank Jr. has the name, of course, but he is not without talent.

Some of the old man’s skills have been passed on to the next generation, as well as the family trait of being able to divide opinions and create media interest.

The senior Eubank had his say on the new team put together to steer his son’s career, per Matchroom Boxing:

"

Team Eubank are delighted to be working with Matchroom Boxing, who we believe have the ability to help Chris Jr. realise his true potential.

With our new partnership with Matchroom Boxing, we will be in an even stronger position to add value to boxing by capitalising on opportunities through focused collaboration.

This new association will allow us to play an even bigger role in boxing by giving fans what they love and to build unique opportunities and experiences with a rich mix of new contests.

"

While it was not mentioned in the official press release, it was also announced trainer Adam Booth would be joining team Eubank.

Booth admitted it is a working relationship he has not entered into lightly, but in an interview with Mark Butcher of Boxing Monthly, he also made clear that he sees huge potential in his new project:

"

I am a coach first and foremost and if I think there are some technical and strategic things that I can add to Junior as a fighter, with all the ingredients he’s already got, then it should work for a more complete fighter.

I believe I am good at my job, I am confident at what I do. I’ve seen enough of Junior.

He’s been in my gym since 2010 sparring and I believe I can help add some things to his game that are going to make him a more complete fighter.

"

Booth is right to suggest there is more to come from Eubank Jr. It is quite possible what we have seen so far is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fulfilling his talent.

But it should not be overlooked that the Brighton-born middleweight lost to Billy Joe Saunders last year in a bout that saw the British, Commonwealth and European titles on the line.

A potential rematch in the summer never materialised between the two domestic rivals, and both have since moved on.

Eubank Jr. returned to the ring in February, becoming the interim WBA world champion at 160 pounds by beating Dmitry Chudinov in a one-sided bout that somehow made it to the 12th round.

It is clear the solitary defeat to Saunders has not damaged his confidence.

In a video interview with FightHype.com (h/t Scott Gilfoid of Boxing News 24), Eubank Jr. stated his lofty ambitions for the future, "I want to fight the best. I want to prove that I can mix it with these guys. Anybody in the middleweight division that has a belt, I want to fight. There’s no reason why in two years I can’t have all the belts."

Some may dismiss such lofty aims as pie-in-the-sky, but the offspring of Chris Eubank was never likely to lack for self-belief.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Eubank Jr. also needs to hope he inherited his father’s ability to absorb a punch. 

Nigel Benn—Eubank's longtime rival—told Tom Gray of Ring Magazine, "I could hit Chris’ chin with anything and it wouldn’t even move. It was like hitting a lump of granite but to be honest I enjoyed pummelling that chin.”

The young Eubank will need to have a chin of stone if he is to prosper in a tough division. He may talk of wanting to fight either Gennady Golovkin or Miguel Cotto, but he is not quite ready for that level. Not yet anyway.

However, the tools are there to work with.

Booth needs to be given enough control—meaning the senior Eubank might have to take a step back, a tough ask for someone not used to staying quiet in the background—to allow him to build on the basics, just as he did with David Haye, a heavy hitter whom he cultivated into a two-time world champion.

The new trainer’s link with current WBO champion Andy Lee rules out that fight ever happening. But Saunders is first in line for a crack at that belt anyway.

Another potential option is to switch to super middleweight. Eubank Jr. could actually benefit from the extra eight pounds he would be allowed to carry by moving up. Anyone who follows him on social media will know he is dedicated to training.

For now, the only certainty is that Eubank Jr. will make his Matchroom debut on October 24 in Sheffield. John Ryder could be the opponent, according to Boxing Monthly journalist Shaun Brown on Twitter.

He is already scheduled to be out again in December, too, as Hearn appears intent on showing off his new toy as much as possible before the year is out.

You cannot blame him—Eubank Jr. is a potential world champion who will always be a storyline that interests media and fans alike.

Plenty will tune in to watch in October and December, hoping his ego is knocked into shape by whomever he is up against. In that way, he is definitely a chip off the old block.