Chris Eubank Jr finally justifies allure in dominant victory over James DeGale

Chris Eubank Jr finally justified the allure surrounding a career in the shadows of his esteemed father by dropping James DeGale twice in a resounding victory.

Hammering the punch bags on Instagram, showing off his latest shiny supercar and producing excitement in arenas to the soundtrack of ‘The Next Episode’ could only last so long.

The buildup to this fight largely focused on what DeGale had to lose: a career, given his belief he had no place in the sport if he could not beat who he deemed an inferior fighter. But Eubank Jr, too, was rolling the dice, testing the public’s patience; a third defeat against a household name would complicate his future in meaningful fights.

But after an edgy opening round, Eubank Jr ensured it caught fire in the second: a whipping right sending DeGale sprawling into the ropes. And he failed to grasp control of the fight from that point onwards.

The lunging assaults quickly added up in the second to see DeGale collapse in the corner, asserting Eubank Jr’s threat far earlier than anticipated.

Eubank Jr starting baiting his rival in the third, sparking gasps at ringside at his audacity.

The crude work dispatched by Eubank Jr has always been held against him, with other more esteemed amateurs mocking the rough side to his arsenal. But it seemed to finally find a home at The O2 with appreciation unanimously felt.

The cruel side of boxing could be felt in the sense that DeGale pushed for this fight when he didn’t need to, craving adulation that has largely alluded him throughout his career due to his greatest achievements taking place abroad.

Often missed in the build-up to Eubank Jr’s recent fights up at super-middleweight is his comfort at the weight. Previously a middleweight and seemingly capable of dropping back down should the opportunity present itself, Eubank Jr outworked DeGale, who has spent a career at the weight, in the clinches.

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One of the keys to DeGale’s game plan must have been to make Eubank Jr respect his power, but despite ceding some of the classier shots – particularly DeGale’s sweetly-timed jab early on – he marched forward all night, endearing himself to the crowd.

The end of the ninth confirmed Eubank Jr’s ascent, persevering despite DeGale’s veteran attempts to make the fight messy with shots to the back of the head as the fighters spun around. Eubank resisted a reaction to those antics, instead continuing his drive to land vicious shots before standing over his opponent as he stumbled towards his corner at sound of the bell.

The 10th convinced even the fiercest of critics too: Eubank Jr beat his chest after one assault before forcing his opponent to take a knee. And one of the Brighton man’s trademarks shots throughout his career, the long uppercut, even made a cameo in the 11th, demonstrating even the crudest of fighters can have versatility.

Yes, it was not pretty, but the beautiful brutality of Eubank Jr is its own attraction. Boxing’s own charm is the eclectic mix of styles and Eubank Jr’s has finally shown itself to have substance at the highest level.