Billy Joe Saunders has shared the ring with Chris Eubank Jr. and has now broken down his skills ahead of the fight with Conor Benn.
Saunders and Eubank Jr fought early in both men’s careers. Saunders won that night on points after starting well and banking many of the first rounds, although Eubank attempted to come back into the fight in the second half.
Since then Eubank has had plenty of ups and downs including wins over James DeGale, a loss in a world title fight with George Groves, and a dramatic pair of fights with Liam Smith.
The first saw Eubank Jr put down and knocked out for the first time in his career back in January 2023, but six months later he avenged the loss with a KO win of his own.
Last time out he fought the unheralded Kamil Szeremeta and won by stoppage and is now just weeks away from a showdown with Benn, who is the naturally smaller and less experienced man.
Speaking on Up Front, Saunders was asked what he made of Eubank as a fighter.
“I said it from day one, he will never be world champion. I tell you the reason why, ’cause I’ve been in the ring with him. I know the difference between your David Lemieux, I can see why they’ve been world champions, Andy Lee, even John Ryder.
“He can fight but he can’t box, that’s the problem. When he was 24, 25, he was a wind-up toy, you could get him fit, wind him up and let him go and he’d go all day. Now he’s 33, 34, you’ve got to learn to pick your punches and float around … He’ll never be world champion as long as he’s got a hole in his a**e.”
