CHRIS EUBANK JR admitted he ‘didn’t know what to expect’ after turning up at Roy Jones Jr’s FARM for training.
But by the time he completed his first session with the boxing legend, Eubank Jr was left ‘amazed’.
The middleweight contender, who for much of his career snubbed a head coach, first linked up with Jones while vacationing in America.
And after the coronavirus pandemic hit, Eubank Jr, 31, was in need of a private place to train with gyms shutting down.
That is when he thought of American great Jones, 52, who has a gym on his farm in Florida.
Eubank Jr told Sky Sports: “I didn’t know what to expect when I first showed up at his farm.
“I thought I’d hit the bag for five rounds, shadow-box, skip, see you tomorrow.
“Someone like Roy, a legend, I didn’t think he would give me his time.
“I was completely wrong. He was on to me 100 per cent from the moment I walked in. I was amazed.
“I knew after the first day, ‘This is the guy I need to spend time with’.”
It was Eubank’s legendary father Sr who then phoned up Jones and asked whether he would take his son on full time.
Up until that point, Eubank Jr had fought most of his career without a trainer, instead having his dad’s old coach Ronnie Davis and Sr as mentors.
Eubank Jr used American coach Nate Vasquez in his 2019 victory over James DeGale, 35, his biggest win to date.
But no one has had a bigger impact than Jones, considered one of the greatest fighters ever to live.
He was on to me 100 per cent from the moment I walked in. I was amazed.
Chris Eubank Je on Roy Jones Jr as a coach
Eubank Jr said: “I’ve never had that. For most of my career I was left to my own devices.
“I am responsible and dedicated so I was able to make that work.
“Some guys need constant reminders. I never needed that, I would do it regardless.
“But having someone there to mesh everything together in the right way has been amazing. Everything has worked out way better than expected.”
Eubank Jr got off to winning ways under Jones, beating Manchester’s Marcus Morrison, 28, in May.
He now returns against late replacement Anatoli Muratov, 33, on Saturday, eager to further showcase his improvements.
Eubank Jr said: “Me and Roy work great together. I am learning every day, even at the age of 31.
“You saw a little taster of things to come in my fight with Marcus Morrison.
“But there is a lot more. As each fight comes you will see more improvements, more things that you haven’t seen from me in the past.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
