The World Boxing Super Series tournament is officially set after Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1, 19 KO) proved Arthur Abraham’s (46-5, 30 KO) superior by wide scores of 120-108 and 118-110 (twice), earning the final super middleweight slot opposite Avni Yildirim.
Abraham, 37, thought he had seen it all—fighting the world’s best over the years from Carl Froch to Andre Ward. But Eubank Jr.’s frenzied attack disrupted the veteran’s methodical approach.
The Englishman, 27, with a legendary bloodline picked his shots well in the opening round. He snapped Abraham’s head back with that exaggerated uppercut of his.
Abraham showed off some patented technique too, drumming the sides of Eubank’s head with curled hooks in Round 2. But through three rounds, the experienced German was fighting the young man’s game.
Eubank Jr. did not allow Abraham to fight in spurts, constantly pouring it on him, especially against the ropes. Abraham’s high guard was broken by a barrage of combinations in the fourth. Junior had no problem stuffing four, five, six consecutive uppercuts into his man on the ropes.
Abraham looked alive again in the fifth and sixth period. He landed chopping right hands and charged into his opponent as Eubank seemed to take the rounds off.
Junior did what he does best in Round 7. Abraham walloped him but Eubank only turned away from his opponent to give the crowd an extended smirk of disinterest. He shimmied his shoulders and doubled up on a pair of fierce left hooks. He closed the round with murder on his mind, flinging leather into Abraham—nearly losing his footing.
The once-defeated Englishman snapped Abraham’s head back again in the eighth. He was in the driver’s seat and let his man know, mouthing off after the bell rang. Referee Michael Alexander decided it was best to remain in between the two.
A former world champion, Abraham was back on the offensive in Round 9. But halfway through, Eubank slipped a punch of his and returned a straight right hand that flustered the veteran. The Armenian-born fighter spent the rest of the period back on the ropes, grimacing from Eubank’s uncouth combination punching.
Attempting to create some luck, Abraham walked Eubank down in the tenth and eleventh. Eubank, though, did his best Wilfred Benitez impression, planting his feet and dodging leather with his hands at his side.
Round 12 featured a handful of exchanges. But time ran out for Abraham.
The final bell sounded and the cheeky Englishman was the winner, by clear margins.
Abraham’s professional career dates back to 2003—made up of over 50 fights—a perennial title contender across two weight classes. Now Eubank Jr. has made some noise in two divisions, fighting at middleweight until this year and earning the final slot in the super middleweight tournament.
Eubank’s father faced off with Yildirim in his place at the Super Series gala earlier this month. The Turkish box-fighter is a whirling banger no different than the Eubanks.
Eubank Jr. does not care to throw a jab or maintain balance when unloading his haymakers so he may never be the best fighter in the division, but he could very well already be the most exciting.
Header photo: PA Photo
