Where Are They Now??

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Eubank, Chris (1966- ), British middleweight and super-middleweight world boxing champion of the 1990s who took part in more world title fights than any other British boxer and who cultivated an outrageous and controversial image. Christopher Livingston Eubank was born in Dulwich, London, where he boxed as an amateur. He had a troubled childhood and was sent to New York in 1982 where his mother already lived. He did well as an amateur, and turned professional in October 1985, returning to Britain in 1987. After 24 contests, all won, in 1990 he successfully challenged fellow Briton Nigel Benn for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) version of the middleweight title. His third and final defence of this title, in June 1991, was a controversial points win over Michael Watson, another British boxer, and in September he fought Watson again for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title. Soon after the start of the 12th and final round, the referee was forced to stop the fight in Eubank’s favour with Watson clearly in distress. As a result of injuries sustained in the fight, Watson was permanently disabled. Eubank never seemed to be so ruthless a puncher afterwards. Finally, after 14 successful defences of this title, he lost it on points to the Irish boxer Steve Collins, his first defeat, in March 1995, and then lost the return bout in September. He temporarily retired, but in October 1996 returned as a light-heavyweight. A year later he unsuccessfully fought Joe Calzaghe for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title in October 1997, at the end of which his overall record stood at 50 contests with 45 wins, 2 draws, and 3 defeats. In April 1998 he lost to fellow British boxer Carl Thompson in an impressive but exhausting fight for the WBO cruiserweight title.