Chris Eubank Junior wore a stern face as he watched his rival George Groves drill Jamie Cox with one humongous body shot last night at Wembley. The two British super-middleweights are all set to rumble early next year in the next phase of the thoroughly enjoyable World Boxing Super Series tournament.
Groves will also defend the WBA 168 pound title he retained inside four-rounds last night. But Eubank, unbeaten as a super-middleweight (his sole loss coming via decision to Billy Joe Saunders down at 160 pounds) insists he saw nothing last night to concern him or his chances of winning in the fight that is now targeted for January.
Boxing is an inherently psychological undertaking. It is an activity that exposes the contestants to far more than the simple prospect of defeat: the potential combination of public humiliation and genuine physical harm percolate in a fighter’s mind to a degree that few who have not lived the experience can reasonably quantify. Far from being a mere test of physical skills then, boxing is perhaps one of the purest tests of human will power. Some of the biggest contests in boxing history have therefore been won or lost through cunning, bravery and fortitude as much as they have speed, strength and stamina.