Chris Eubank
Encyclopedia
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton (born Christopher Livingstone Eubanks on 8 August 1966) is a retired British
boxer who held world titles at middleweight
and super middleweight
. He was a world champion for over five years and undefeated as a middleweight.
, South London
and spent his early days in Jamaica
(from two months old to six years old).
On his return to England, he lived in Stoke Newington
, Dalston
, Hackney
and then Peckham
; largely impoverished.
Chris attended Bellingden Junior School, and then Thomas Carlton Secondary School, from where he was suspended eighteen times in one year and then expelled, despite claiming he was gallantly trying to protect other children from bullies. He then attended Peckham Manor School, from where he was suspended five times in four weeks and then expelled. Chris was then put into care and spent time in various institutions under the care of Social Services. Some time was spent at Orchard Lodge Regional Resource Centre, Anerley in 1981.
When he was 16, his father sent him to New York
in the U.S.
to live with his mother in the tough South Bronx
district.
at aged 18.
He writes in his autobiography that his drive to succeed in boxing came through his drive to become an accepted individual, largely caused by subjective bullying from his elder brothers.
He made his professional debut at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino against Tim Brown
, shortly after his 19th birthday. About his next 10 fights went largely unnoticed, then in February 1989 he made brief headlines in defeating Jamaican Anthony Logan in an undercard match to a Nigel Benn
-headlined show. Benn was arguably the biggest rising star in European sport at the time and Logan had come closest to beating the power-punching Benn in what was Benn's most memorable clash to date. Eubank had already made Brighton
in England his adopted hometown and set his sights on Benn, believing he could beat him.
After a string of impressive stoppage victories following a dominant 10-round decision over American 'gatekeeper'/'journeyman' Randy Smith
, Eubank captured the WBC International title in 1990 against the useful Hugo Corti. Later in the year, he knocked out Renaldo Dos Santos in precisely 20 seconds (including the 10-count).
(and the odds) in a classic encounter that was later released on DVD: a grueling battle which ended when Benn (ahead on points, but only narrowly) was stopped on his feet near the end of round 9. Eubank would defend the title successfully against Dan Sherry (in a fight cut short by a headbutt, for which Eubank was penalised 2 points but still won on points over the six completed rounds), fellow Briton Gary Stretch
and finally in an excellent match with another fellow Briton, Michael Watson
, fighting him to a narrow 12-round majority decision in Eubank's favour. This concluded Eubank's career as a middleweight, with a 28–0 record.
Eubank was particularly noted for his confidence, concentration, composure, and extravagant behaviour, and antics that included a vault over the top-rope into the ring before each fight. His trademark theme tune was Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" anthem. It also included often-hilarious posturing (particularly between rounds of fights). Eubank was by now presented as something of a "man you love to hate" figure in the British tabloid press because of his perceived posturing and arrogance and for his singularly unconventional sense of style. In boxing circles he enjoyed even less popularity, having once referred to the sport as a 'mug's game' on national television.
Now the holder of a second title, Eubank relinquished his middleweight title and concentrated on defending his new crown at the higher weight of . After the Watson tragedy Eubank never again showed any desire to knock opponents out, preferring to retain his title through points victories. He made successful defences against "Sugarboy" Malinga
, the American quartet of John Jarvis
, Ron Essett, Tony Thornton
and former World Champion Lindell Holmes
, as well as Juan Carlos Giminez Ferreyra and a draw with fellow Briton Ray Close
.
Nigel Benn
moved up to super middleweight and became WBC champion. The pair agreed to meet in a WBC/WBO unification rematch. In 1993 the rivals would engage in another contest named 'Judgement Day' and fought an exciting contest - albeit less brutal than their first - to a draw. Don King had negotiated the contracts so that he would own both the winner and the loser of Eubank v Benn 2. Barry Hearn
claimed that, as a draw was not written into the contract, Eubank was free to sign a new deal with him instead of King. He did - and Benn also did not sign for King, on the same pretext.
Following the Benn fight, Eubank went on to defeat Graciano Rocchigiani
of Germany, the undefeated former IBF
super middleweight title holder. After this victory Eubank signed an eight-fight £10-million deal with Sky Sports
for contests in Ireland
, South Africa
, Manchester
, London
and Millstreet
. Eubank made five further successful defences, beating a trio of British world title contenders in Ray Close
, Henry Wharton and Sam Storey
as well as unbeaten Dan Schommer and Mauricio Amaral Costa.
In March 1995, however, Eubank lost his title to Irishman Steve Collins
, by split decision.
Eubank won an eliminator for his old title against Jose Ignacio Barruetabena, as well as a win over Bruno Ruben Godoy. In a rematch with Steve Collins
, Eubank went to Collins's back yard in Cork, Ireland, and lost again by a narrow split decision. He announced his retirement from the ring in October 1995. He made a quick comeback in 1996, however, defeating Luis Dionisio Barrera and Camilo Alarcon. His final appearance in a super middleweight World Title Fight resulted in his being floored twice and losing on points to fellow Briton Joe Calzaghe
, who acknowledged that the 12-round fight was the toughest in his career.
Eubank then added 20 lbs in weight and challenged Britain's Carl Thompson
for the WBO cruiserweight title. Eubank floored Thompson in the fourth round but, as in the first Steve Collins fight, failed to press home his advantage. The thrilling fight went the distance, with Thompson's strength and durability eventually telling in the later rounds. Thompson won by unanimous decision, but the closeness of the fight was reflected in the scoring, with two of the three judges giving the fight to Thompson by a single point. A rematch was quickly arranged for three months later and they again fought for the WBO cruiserweight championship in what turned out to be Eubank's last fight. Eubank had the better of the fight early in the rematch, but the short rest between the bouts came back to haunt him as his left eye that was damaged in the first fight rapidly began to swell. The fight was stopped at the end of the ninth round, when Eubank's left eye closed completely from swelling. At the time he was ahead on the scorecards. Eubank finished his career with a creditable record of 45 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses.
Homes and Antiques magazine in January 2006, Eubank was voted the second most eccentric star (after Björk
). Speaking with a lisp
and in affected upper-class tones; dressing as a stereotypically upper-class Englishman (in jodhpurs
, bowler hat
and riding boots; sporting a monocle
)and carrying a silver-tipped cane, such affectations (along with his perceived arrogance and self-glorifying antics) did little to endear him to the tabloids — he was once voted third in a Reader's Digest
poll of Britain's Silliest Celebrities. However, in 1991 and 1993 he won Britain's Best Dressed Man award, given by the Menswear Association of Great Britain. In 1993 and 1995 he won the Daily Express
Best Dressed Sportsman award and in 1998 and 2001, the Gold Tie Pin Award.
His collection of vehicles included a customised Harley Davidson and a huge American Peterbilt
379 truck cab — the largest truck in Europe. At one time he owned the only Hummer
in the UK and Ireland.
In the early 1990s, Eubank was caricatured as a puppet on Spitting Image
. He featured on the front cover of Esquire magazine
for the April 1992 edition. He has featured in television advertisements (commercials) for Nescafe
, the Royal Mail
, McDonald's
, and Jaffa Cakes and has modelled for Vivienne Westwood
and Versace.
In 1991 Eubank publicly launched the 'Breast Cancer' charity 'Breakthrough' on breakfast television
.
He has purchased the title of the Lord of the Manor
of Brighton
and used the ancient right of this position to appoint a town crier
in addition to the town crier employed by the local authority. In 1994 he took over a prime site in the city, which he called 'Buckingham Place'. He knocked down the interior whilst keeping the grade II façade intact and built 69 flats for the homeless, using £1,250,000 of his own money. The building was leased to the charity Sanctuary Housing Association with the lowest rents in the country.
In 1996, he was the guest presenter on Top of the Pops
the week Suggs from Madness
was at number six with a song
called Cecilia
: a move apparently made to capitalise on his lisp for humorous effect. The video of a boxer with a lisp saying 'Six, Cecilia, by Suggs' was subsequently often shown on the comedy music quiz programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks
. In 1999, he launched the Dreamcast and in the same year, he appeared in his truck in the music video for the song Turn Around by Phats & Small
.
In 2001, Eubank appeared in the reality television show Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 4
, where he was the first celebrity to be 'evicted'. He also had his own show on Talk Radio
called Eubank's People: guest included Linford Christie
, John Fashanu
, Lennox Lewis
and Naseem Hamed
.
More recently, Eubank has been spending time penning a musical based on his life. The project, which carries a working title of 'Eubox', was initially being funded by producer (and chairman of Everton F.C.
) Bill Kenwright
. After showing great interest in the project initially, Kenwright eventually pulled out after he received an invoice to the value of £17,500 for a giant wooden replica of the Peterbilt
379 truck which Eubank owns. Eubank insisted it was essential to the production but Kenwright maintained that a script was needed before set design was considered. Undeterred, in an interview with QVC
, Eubank insisted that the production would go ahead and he hoped to be in London's West end by the summer of 2011 and then on Broadway by the following year. As of 2010 Eubank is yet to finalise the script and he has not received interest from any West End or Broadway producers.
After the accident in 1991, Eubank and Michael Watson became friends, with Eubank accompanying Watson for the final mile of the 2003 London Marathon
, which Watson — still showing physical damage from the fight and taking more than six days — completed to raise money for charity.
, owing £1.3 million in tax
es.
, Westminster
, in his truck, which displayed the message "TONY BLAIR! MILITARY OCCUPATION CAUSES TERRORISM". He completed a number of circuits before he was arrested and led handcuffed into a police van.
At approximately 15:40 GMT on February 22, 2007, Eubank was arrested outside Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall
for a suspected breach of the peace
after driving his truck through central London, emblazoned with a message condemning Tony Blair
for sending Prince Harry to Iraq. The banner read "BLAIR - Don't send our young prince to your catastrophic illegal war, to make it look plausible!"
On 23 May 2007 he was charged with making an unlawful anti-war protest after parking his seven-tonne truck outside Downing Street
. On 16 November he failed to turn up at court over this, an arrest warrant was issued, and he was fined.
charity
GamCare
, to support and encourage responsible gambling.
In 1992, Eubank was involved in a fatal collision when he lost control of his car on the London to Brighton road; the car came off the road and killed a building site worker. He was convicted of driving without due care and attention, fined £250 plus £1450 costs, and had six penalty points added to his driving licence. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/boxer-fined-for-careless-driving-in-fatal-crash-1540977.html
In 2001, Eubank was the subject of a Louis Theroux
documentary entitled "When Louis Met...Chris Eubank
", in which Theroux and his camera crew accompany Eubank for a period. In 2003, they invited television cameras to follow their lives for nine months; the resulting show, At Home With The Eubanks, was broadcast on Five. Karron petitioned for divorce
from Eubank in August 2005.
In 2005 Eubank was convicted of taking a vehicle without consent. He had driven a beer lorry which was being unloaded away from a place where he considered it to be causing an unreasonable obstruction. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/chris-eubank-found-guilty-of-taking-a-beer-delivery-truck-505167.html
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
boxer who held world titles at middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
and super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
. He was a world champion for over five years and undefeated as a middleweight.
Early life
Christopher Livingstone Eubanks (later opting to delete the 's' from his surname) was born on 8 August 1966, in DulwichDulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
and spent his early days in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
(from two months old to six years old).
On his return to England, he lived in Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
, Dalston
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
and then Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
; largely impoverished.
Chris attended Bellingden Junior School, and then Thomas Carlton Secondary School, from where he was suspended eighteen times in one year and then expelled, despite claiming he was gallantly trying to protect other children from bullies. He then attended Peckham Manor School, from where he was suspended five times in four weeks and then expelled. Chris was then put into care and spent time in various institutions under the care of Social Services. Some time was spent at Orchard Lodge Regional Resource Centre, Anerley in 1981.
When he was 16, his father sent him to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to live with his mother in the tough South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
district.
Boxing career
Eubank made a fresh start in New York, beating drug, alcohol and shoplifting addictions to attend church and school. In his spare time he trained at the Jerome Boxing Club on Westchester Avenue, following in the footsteps of his boxing elder brothers (twins, Peter and Simons Eubanks) back in England. Eubank became obsessed with boxing training and went to the gym every day, even working as caretaker to pay his way. He won the 1984 Spanish Golden Gloves Tournament and also got to the semi-final stage of the main Golden Gloves tourney at Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
at aged 18.
He writes in his autobiography that his drive to succeed in boxing came through his drive to become an accepted individual, largely caused by subjective bullying from his elder brothers.
He made his professional debut at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino against Tim Brown
Tim Brown
Timothy Donell Brown is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for Notre Dame, where he won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award. He spent sixteen years with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, during which he established himself as one...
, shortly after his 19th birthday. About his next 10 fights went largely unnoticed, then in February 1989 he made brief headlines in defeating Jamaican Anthony Logan in an undercard match to a Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
-headlined show. Benn was arguably the biggest rising star in European sport at the time and Logan had come closest to beating the power-punching Benn in what was Benn's most memorable clash to date. Eubank had already made Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
in England his adopted hometown and set his sights on Benn, believing he could beat him.
After a string of impressive stoppage victories following a dominant 10-round decision over American 'gatekeeper'/'journeyman' Randy Smith
Randy Smith
-Sports personalities:*Randy Smith , American chosen NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1978; career lasted 1971–83...
, Eubank captured the WBC International title in 1990 against the useful Hugo Corti. Later in the year, he knocked out Renaldo Dos Santos in precisely 20 seconds (including the 10-count).
WBO middleweight champion
Eubank won the WBO middleweight title against Nigel BennNigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
(and the odds) in a classic encounter that was later released on DVD: a grueling battle which ended when Benn (ahead on points, but only narrowly) was stopped on his feet near the end of round 9. Eubank would defend the title successfully against Dan Sherry (in a fight cut short by a headbutt, for which Eubank was penalised 2 points but still won on points over the six completed rounds), fellow Briton Gary Stretch
Gary Stretch
Gary Stretch is a British boxer, male model, and an actor.-Early life:Gary Stretch was brought up in the Haresfinch area of St. Helens, the son of a plumber...
and finally in an excellent match with another fellow Briton, Michael Watson
Michael Watson
Michael Watson, MBE is a retired British boxer whose career ended prematurely as a result of near-fatal injury sustained in a WBO super-middleweight title fight defeat by Chris Eubank in September 1991....
, fighting him to a narrow 12-round majority decision in Eubank's favour. This concluded Eubank's career as a middleweight, with a 28–0 record.
WBO super middleweight champion
A rematch with Watson for the vacant WBO super middleweight title took place in September 1991, in which Watson suffered a near-fatal injury. Eubank was behind on all scorecards after 10 rounds, and was knocked down halfway through the 11th, seemingly on the way to defeat: but he rose from the canvas to unleash a devastating uppercut to Watson's jaw right at the end of the round, returning the knockdown. The bell sounded to end the round as soon as Watson was up from the count. It was still obvious to all observers - and to Eubank himself - that he needed a knockout to win: and early in the 12th with Watson still visibly shaken the fight was stopped with Watson under a flurry of punches from Eubank. Soon after the fight Watson collapsed in his corner. His condition may have been worsened by delay in receiving medical attention: there was no ambulance or paramedic at the event and after eight minutes on the ring floor, Watson was attended by doctors wearing dinner jackets, arriving late. Eubank contemplated quitting the sport. Commentator Reg Gutteridge claimed he had, "never seen a more dramatic end to a world title fight". Eubank later reflected on the aftermath: "I lost my finishing instinct in the ring - I couldn't finish fights any more. However, I needed to work and so I carried on and I won most of my fights on decisions. And I blamed myself, after all, it was me who threw the punch."Eubank was particularly noted for his confidence, concentration, composure, and extravagant behaviour, and antics that included a vault over the top-rope into the ring before each fight. His trademark theme tune was Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" anthem. It also included often-hilarious posturing (particularly between rounds of fights). Eubank was by now presented as something of a "man you love to hate" figure in the British tabloid press because of his perceived posturing and arrogance and for his singularly unconventional sense of style. In boxing circles he enjoyed even less popularity, having once referred to the sport as a 'mug's game' on national television.
Now the holder of a second title, Eubank relinquished his middleweight title and concentrated on defending his new crown at the higher weight of . After the Watson tragedy Eubank never again showed any desire to knock opponents out, preferring to retain his title through points victories. He made successful defences against "Sugarboy" Malinga
Thulani Malinga
Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga (born December 11, 1955 in Ladysmith, South Africa, was a professional boxer in the Super Middleweight (168lb) division, and was twice WBC super middleweight champion.- Professional career :...
, the American quartet of John Jarvis
John Jarvis
John Jarvis may refer to:*John Jarvis , New Zealand karateka*John Jarvis , a set decorator*John Wesley Jarvis , American painter*John Arthur Jarvis , British swimmer...
, Ron Essett, Tony Thornton
Tony Thornton
Tony Thornton was an American professional boxer who died of a motorcycle accident on 10 September 2009.Tony went to West Chester University...
and former World Champion Lindell Holmes
Lindell Holmes
Lindell Holmes is a retired American boxer in the super middleweight division.Holmes turned professional in 1979 and in 1986 challenged IBF Super Middleweight Title holder Chong-Pal Park of South Korea. The bout was ruled a no contest in the 2nd round after an accidental head-clash opened a cut on...
, as well as Juan Carlos Giminez Ferreyra and a draw with fellow Briton Ray Close
Ray Close
Ray Close is a former boxer who fought for most of his career in the Super Middleweight division, ending his career in the Light Heavyweight division. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly Mormon...
.
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
moved up to super middleweight and became WBC champion. The pair agreed to meet in a WBC/WBO unification rematch. In 1993 the rivals would engage in another contest named 'Judgement Day' and fought an exciting contest - albeit less brutal than their first - to a draw. Don King had negotiated the contracts so that he would own both the winner and the loser of Eubank v Benn 2. Barry Hearn
Barry Hearn
Barry Hearn is an English sporting events promoter, and the founder and chairman of promotions company Matchroom Sport. He is currently the chairman of Leyton Orient F.C., and the Professional Darts Corporation and was also until July 2010 chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker...
claimed that, as a draw was not written into the contract, Eubank was free to sign a new deal with him instead of King. He did - and Benn also did not sign for King, on the same pretext.
Following the Benn fight, Eubank went on to defeat Graciano Rocchigiani
Graciano Rocchigiani
Graciano "Rocky" Rocchigiani , is a former German professional boxer who held world titles in the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.-Professional career:...
of Germany, the undefeated former IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
super middleweight title holder. After this victory Eubank signed an eight-fight £10-million deal with Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
for contests in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Millstreet
Millstreet
Millstreet is a town in north County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 1,500. It is located at the foot of Clara Mountain. The town's Catholic church is dedicated to St. Patrick. Since October 1985, the town has been twinned with Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany, France...
. Eubank made five further successful defences, beating a trio of British world title contenders in Ray Close
Ray Close
Ray Close is a former boxer who fought for most of his career in the Super Middleweight division, ending his career in the Light Heavyweight division. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly Mormon...
, Henry Wharton and Sam Storey
Sam Storey
Sam Storey is a former professional boxer. Storey fought at Super Middleweight and won the British Super Middleweight Title in 1995....
as well as unbeaten Dan Schommer and Mauricio Amaral Costa.
In March 1995, however, Eubank lost his title to Irishman Steve Collins
Steve Collins
Stephen Collins, more commonly known as Steve Collins, is a former professional boxer. Known as the "The Celtic Warrior", Collins is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion....
, by split decision.
Eubank won an eliminator for his old title against Jose Ignacio Barruetabena, as well as a win over Bruno Ruben Godoy. In a rematch with Steve Collins
Steve Collins
Stephen Collins, more commonly known as Steve Collins, is a former professional boxer. Known as the "The Celtic Warrior", Collins is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion....
, Eubank went to Collins's back yard in Cork, Ireland, and lost again by a narrow split decision. He announced his retirement from the ring in October 1995. He made a quick comeback in 1996, however, defeating Luis Dionisio Barrera and Camilo Alarcon. His final appearance in a super middleweight World Title Fight resulted in his being floored twice and losing on points to fellow Briton Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
, who acknowledged that the 12-round fight was the toughest in his career.
Eubank then added 20 lbs in weight and challenged Britain's Carl Thompson
Carl Thompson
Carl Thompson is a luthier and musician specializing in the construction of high-quality custom bass guitars. He is based in Brooklyn, New York....
for the WBO cruiserweight title. Eubank floored Thompson in the fourth round but, as in the first Steve Collins fight, failed to press home his advantage. The thrilling fight went the distance, with Thompson's strength and durability eventually telling in the later rounds. Thompson won by unanimous decision, but the closeness of the fight was reflected in the scoring, with two of the three judges giving the fight to Thompson by a single point. A rematch was quickly arranged for three months later and they again fought for the WBO cruiserweight championship in what turned out to be Eubank's last fight. Eubank had the better of the fight early in the rematch, but the short rest between the bouts came back to haunt him as his left eye that was damaged in the first fight rapidly began to swell. The fight was stopped at the end of the ninth round, when Eubank's left eye closed completely from swelling. At the time he was ahead on the scorecards. Eubank finished his career with a creditable record of 45 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses.
Career beyond boxing
Throughout his successful years and beyond, Eubank developed a reputation for eccentricity. In a poll published by BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Homes and Antiques magazine in January 2006, Eubank was voted the second most eccentric star (after Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
). Speaking with a lisp
Lisp
A lisp is a speech impediment, historically also known as sigmatism. Stereotypically, people with a lisp are unable to pronounce sibilants , and replace them with interdentals , though there are actually several kinds of lisp...
and in affected upper-class tones; dressing as a stereotypically upper-class Englishman (in jodhpurs
Jodhpurs
Jodhpurs in their modern form are tight-fitting trousers that reach to the ankle, where they end in a snug cuff, and are worn primarily for horse riding. The term is also used incorrectly as slang for a type of short riding boot, also called a paddock boot or a jodhpur boot, because they are worn...
, bowler hat
Bowler hat
The bowler hat, also known as a coke hat, derby , billycock or bombin, is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown originally created in 1849 for the English soldier and politician Edward Coke, the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester...
and riding boots; sporting a monocle
Monocle
A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the vision in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens, generally with a wire ring around the circumference that can be attached to a string. The other end of the string is then connected to the wearer's clothing to avoid losing...
)and carrying a silver-tipped cane, such affectations (along with his perceived arrogance and self-glorifying antics) did little to endear him to the tabloids — he was once voted third in a Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
poll of Britain's Silliest Celebrities. However, in 1991 and 1993 he won Britain's Best Dressed Man award, given by the Menswear Association of Great Britain. In 1993 and 1995 he won the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
Best Dressed Sportsman award and in 1998 and 2001, the Gold Tie Pin Award.
His collection of vehicles included a customised Harley Davidson and a huge American Peterbilt
Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Company is an American manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty Class 5 through Class 8 trucks headquartered in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1939 Peterbilt operates manufacturing facilities in Denton, Texas , and Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec...
379 truck cab — the largest truck in Europe. At one time he owned the only Hummer
Hummer
Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were...
in the UK and Ireland.
In the early 1990s, Eubank was caricatured as a puppet on Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
. He featured on the front cover of Esquire magazine
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
for the April 1992 edition. He has featured in television advertisements (commercials) for Nescafe
Nescafé
Nescafé is a brand of instant coffee made by Nestlé. It comes in the form of many different products. The name is a portmanteau of the words "Nestlé" and "café". Nestlé's flagship powdered coffee product was introduced in Switzerland on April 1, 1938 after being developed for seven or eight years...
, the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
, McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, and Jaffa Cakes and has modelled for Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
and Versace.
In 1991 Eubank publicly launched the 'Breast Cancer' charity 'Breakthrough' on breakfast television
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
.
He has purchased the title of the Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and used the ancient right of this position to appoint a town crier
Town crier
A town crier, or bellman, is an officer of the court who makes public pronouncements as required by the court . The crier can also be used to make public announcements in the streets...
in addition to the town crier employed by the local authority. In 1994 he took over a prime site in the city, which he called 'Buckingham Place'. He knocked down the interior whilst keeping the grade II façade intact and built 69 flats for the homeless, using £1,250,000 of his own money. The building was leased to the charity Sanctuary Housing Association with the lowest rents in the country.
In 1996, he was the guest presenter on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
the week Suggs from Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
was at number six with a song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
called Cecilia
Cecilia (song)
"Cecilia" is a song written by US musician Paul Simon. It was first recorded by Simon and Garfunkel for their 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. When released as a single, it reached #4 in the US charts...
: a move apparently made to capitalise on his lisp for humorous effect. The video of a boxer with a lisp saying 'Six, Cecilia, by Suggs' was subsequently often shown on the comedy music quiz programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
. In 1999, he launched the Dreamcast and in the same year, he appeared in his truck in the music video for the song Turn Around by Phats & Small
Phats & Small
Phats & Small are a dance music duo from the UK. The duo consists of Jason "Phats" Hayward and Russell Small, they are best known for their 1998 hit "Turn Around"-Career:...
.
In 2001, Eubank appeared in the reality television show Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, where he was the first celebrity to be 'evicted'. He also had his own show on Talk Radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
called Eubank's People: guest included Linford Christie
Linford Christie
Linford Cicero Christie OBE is a former sprinter from the United Kingdom. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games...
, John Fashanu
John Fashanu
John "Fash" Fashanu is a British television presenter and ex-footballer of Nigerian and Guyanese descent. In his former career, he was a centre-forward, who scored 134 league goals in a career lasting 17 years...
, Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
and Naseem Hamed
Naseem Hamed
Naseem Hamed is an English former professional boxer.He is the former WBO, WBC, IBF, & Lineal featherweight champion, and European bantamweight champion....
.
More recently, Eubank has been spending time penning a musical based on his life. The project, which carries a working title of 'Eubox', was initially being funded by producer (and chairman of Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
) Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....
. After showing great interest in the project initially, Kenwright eventually pulled out after he received an invoice to the value of £17,500 for a giant wooden replica of the Peterbilt
Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Company is an American manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty Class 5 through Class 8 trucks headquartered in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1939 Peterbilt operates manufacturing facilities in Denton, Texas , and Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec...
379 truck which Eubank owns. Eubank insisted it was essential to the production but Kenwright maintained that a script was needed before set design was considered. Undeterred, in an interview with QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
, Eubank insisted that the production would go ahead and he hoped to be in London's West end by the summer of 2011 and then on Broadway by the following year. As of 2010 Eubank is yet to finalise the script and he has not received interest from any West End or Broadway producers.
After the accident in 1991, Eubank and Michael Watson became friends, with Eubank accompanying Watson for the final mile of the 2003 London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, which Watson — still showing physical damage from the fight and taking more than six days — completed to raise money for charity.
Bankruptcy
In November 2005, Eubank was declared bankruptBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, owing £1.3 million in tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es.
Anti-war activism
On Tuesday, 14 October 2003 Eubank was intercepted by police whilst driving around Parliament SquareParliament Square
Parliament Square is a square outside the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in London. It features a large open green area in the middle, with a group of trees to its west. It contains statues of famous statesmen and is the scene of rallies and protests, as well as being a tourist...
, Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, in his truck, which displayed the message "TONY BLAIR! MILITARY OCCUPATION CAUSES TERRORISM". He completed a number of circuits before he was arrested and led handcuffed into a police van.
At approximately 15:40 GMT on February 22, 2007, Eubank was arrested outside Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
for a suspected breach of the peace
Breach of the peace
Breach of the peace is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries, and in a wider public order sense in Britain.-Constitutional law:...
after driving his truck through central London, emblazoned with a message condemning Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
for sending Prince Harry to Iraq. The banner read "BLAIR - Don't send our young prince to your catastrophic illegal war, to make it look plausible!"
On 23 May 2007 he was charged with making an unlawful anti-war protest after parking his seven-tonne truck outside Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
. On 16 November he failed to turn up at court over this, an arrest warrant was issued, and he was fined.
Ambassadorship
In October 2009, Eubank was appointed as the first ambassador for gamblingGambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
GamCare
GamCare
GamCare offers guidance and counselling towards their efforts of dealing with the social ramifications of gambling in the United Kingdom. GamCare, a charitable organization, was founded in April 1997. In October of that year, Adrian Scarfe, then Head of Clinical Services at GamCare, launched the...
, to support and encourage responsible gambling.
Personal life
Eubank and his wife, Karron (married on 23 December 1990 in Brighton), have four children (Christopher, born on 18 September 1989, Sebastian, born on 18 July 1991, Emily, born on 19 April 1994, and Joseph, born on 23 October 1996) and have over the years starred in various television programmes.In 1992, Eubank was involved in a fatal collision when he lost control of his car on the London to Brighton road; the car came off the road and killed a building site worker. He was convicted of driving without due care and attention, fined £250 plus £1450 costs, and had six penalty points added to his driving licence. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/boxer-fined-for-careless-driving-in-fatal-crash-1540977.html
In 2001, Eubank was the subject of a Louis Theroux
Louis Theroux
Louis Sebastian Theroux is an English broadcaster best known for his Gonzo style journalism on the television series Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends and When Louis Met.... His career started off in journalism and bears influences of notable writers in his family such as his father, Paul Theroux and...
documentary entitled "When Louis Met...Chris Eubank
When Louis Met…
When Louis Met... is a series of documentary films made by BAFTA award-winning film-maker Louis Theroux. The series was originally aired on BBC2 from 2000 to 2002....
", in which Theroux and his camera crew accompany Eubank for a period. In 2003, they invited television cameras to follow their lives for nine months; the resulting show, At Home With The Eubanks, was broadcast on Five. Karron petitioned for divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
from Eubank in August 2005.
In 2005 Eubank was convicted of taking a vehicle without consent. He had driven a beer lorry which was being unloaded away from a place where he considered it to be causing an unreasonable obstruction. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/chris-eubank-found-guilty-of-taking-a-beer-delivery-truck-505167.html
See also
- Islam in the African diaspora
- List of Black Britons
- List of converts to Islam