Chris Eubank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Eubank |
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Eubank in 2005
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| Statistics | |
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| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in |
| Reach | 73 in |
| Born | 8 August 1966 Dulwich, London, England |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 52 |
| Wins | 45 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 2 |
Christopher Livingstone Eubank (born 8 August 1966) is a famous British former professional boxer. He competed from 1985 to 1998. He was a world champion for over five years, holding the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight and super-middleweight titles. He was undefeated for his first 10 years as a professional boxer.
Eubank's exciting fights against other British boxers like Nigel Benn and Michael Watson made boxing very popular in the 1990s. His unique personality also made him a well-known celebrity. He was known for his bravery in the ring, able to take many punches. He also had a special style, like vaulting over the ropes into the ring. His son, Chris Eubank Jr., is also a professional boxer.
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Early Life and Boxing Start
Chris Eubank was born in Dulwich, South London, on August 8, 1966. He lived in Jamaica until he was six. After returning to England, he grew up in different parts of London.
When he was 16, his father sent him to New York in the U.S. He lived with his mother in the South Bronx. This was a fresh start for him. He became very focused on boxing training. He went to the gym every day and even worked there to pay his way. He won the 1984 Spanish Golden Gloves Tournament. He also reached the semi-finals of the main New York Golden Gloves tournament.
Becoming a Professional Boxer
Eubank became a professional boxer shortly after his 19th birthday in 1985. His first few fights were not widely noticed. In 1989, he gained attention by beating Anthony Logan. Logan had almost beaten Nigel Benn, who was a rising star. Eubank then moved to Brighton, England. He believed he could beat Benn.
After several wins, Eubank won the WBC International title in 1990. He defeated Hugo Corti. Later that year, he knocked out Renaldo Dos Santos in just 20 seconds.
WBO Middleweight Champion
Eubank won the WBO middleweight title against Nigel Benn in November 1990. This was a very tough fight. Benn was ahead on points, but Eubank stopped him in the ninth round. This fight was so exciting it was released on DVD.
Eubank successfully defended his title several times. He beat Dan Sherry, Gary Stretch, and Michael Watson. After beating Watson, Eubank had a perfect record of 28 wins and no losses. This ended his career as a middleweight boxer.
WBO Super-Middleweight Champion
A rematch with Michael Watson happened in September 1991 for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title. Watson suffered a serious injury during this fight. Eubank was very affected by this. He thought about quitting boxing. He later said he lost his "finishing instinct" in the ring. He continued to box but often won by points instead of knockouts.
Eubank was known for his confidence and unique behavior. He would vault over the top rope into the ring. His theme song was Tina Turner's "Simply the Best". He was sometimes seen as arrogant because of his style. He often wore fancy clothes like jodhpurs and a bowler hat.
After winning his second world title, Eubank focused on the super-middleweight division. He defended his title against many fighters. These included Thulani Malinga, John Jarvis, Ron Essett, Tony Thornton, and former world champion Lindell Holmes. He also fought Juan Carlos Giminez Ferreyra and had a draw with Ray Close.
Eubank vs Benn II
Nigel Benn also moved up to super-middleweight and became the WBC champion. The two rivals agreed to fight again in October 1993. This fight was called 'Judgement Day'. It was another exciting match, but less brutal than their first. The fight ended in a draw.
After the Benn fight, Eubank beat Graciano Rocchigiani of Germany. He then signed a big deal with Sky Sports for more fights. He made five more successful title defenses. He beat British fighters Henry Wharton and Sam Storey. He also defeated unbeaten boxers Dan Schommer and Mauricio Amaral Costa.
Eubank vs Collins
In March 1995, Eubank lost his WBO super-middleweight title to Steve Collins. Collins won by a unanimous decision. A film called One Night in Millstreet was made about this fight.
Eubank won a fight against Jose Ignacio Barruetabena. He also beat Bruno Ruben Godoy. He had a rematch with Collins in Ireland, but he lost again. He announced his retirement in October 1995 but quickly came back in 1996. He won against Luis Dionisio Barrera and Camilo Alarcon.
Calzaghe vs Eubank
In October 1997, Eubank fought Joe Calzaghe for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title. Eubank was knocked down twice and lost on points. However, his popularity grew because he managed to finish the tough fight. Calzaghe later said it was the hardest fight of his career.
Cruiserweight Fights
Eubank then moved up to the cruiserweight division. He challenged Carl Thompson for the WBO cruiserweight title. Eubank knocked Thompson down in the fourth round. But Thompson's strength helped him win the fight by decision.
They had a rematch three months later. This was Eubank's last fight. Eubank was doing well early on. However, his left eye, which was hurt in the first fight, swelled shut. The fight was stopped in the ninth round. Eubank was ahead on points when the fight ended. This was the only time Eubank was stopped in his 13-year career.
Chris Eubank finished his boxing career with 45 wins (23 by knockout), 5 losses, and 2 draws.
Life Beyond Boxing
Chris Eubank became known for his unique personality. He was voted the second most eccentric star in a BBC poll. He speaks with a lisp and uses an upper-class accent. He often dresses in a very traditional English style. Despite this, he won Britain's Best Dressed Man award in 1991 and 1993.
He owned a custom Harley-Davidson and a huge American truck. At one point, he owned the only Hummer in Britain. Eubank was featured on the puppet show Spitting Image. He was also mentioned in the comedy show I'm Alan Partridge. He appeared in TV commercials for brands like Nescafé and McDonald's. He also modeled for famous designers like Vivienne Westwood.
In 1996, Eubank bought the rights to be the lord of the manor in Brighton. He used this right to appoint a town crier. In 1994, he used his own money to build 69 flats for homeless people in Brighton.
Eubank has appeared on many TV shows. In 1999, he launched the Dreamcast game console. He was also on Top of the Pops and had his own radio show. In 2001, he was on the first series of Celebrity Big Brother. He was the first celebrity to leave the house.
In 2002, he was the subject of a documentary called When Louis Met...Chris Eubank. In 2003, his family had their own show called At Home with the Eubanks. Chris Eubank and Michael Watson became friends after their 1991 fight. Eubank supported Watson during his recovery. He even joined Watson for the last mile of the 2003 London Marathon.
In 2015, Eubank took part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He finished in ninth place. He has also appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with his son, Chris Eubank Jr.. In 2021, he was a guest on Piers Morgan's Life Stories. In April 2023, he was a contestant on the TV show Scared of the Dark.
Activism and Charity
Chris Eubank has been involved in activism. He has used his large truck to display messages. In 2005, he became the first ambassador for GamCare. This charity helps people with gambling problems.
Fashion Design
Known for his unique style, Eubank has won awards for being Britain's Best Dressed Man. In 2010, he started designing tailored suits for a company called Cad and the Dandy.
Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank
In 2015, a funny fake trailer was made for a show called Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank. This idea came from the comedy show I'm Alan Partridge. In that show, the main character suggests TV show ideas, including this one.
Personal Life
Chris Eubank married Karron in 1990. They had four children: Christopher, Sebastian, Emily, and Joseph. Eubank also has an older son, Nathanael Wilson. His son Sebastian, who was also a boxer, sadly passed away in 2021. Chris Eubank is the cousin of media personality Mica Paris.
In 2015, Eubank started using his late father's nickname, "English." He did this to remember his father and to help people tell him apart from his son, Chris Jr., who was also starting his boxing career.
Images for kids
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Chris Eubank in 2005
