In response to questions of a couple of posts in another thread, I thought I'd post this up about Chris Jr. Most of you have probably heard vague things about him in the national press as I had, but know little about if he's any good or if like many other sons of former champs he's just playing at his Dad's business.
Last month, at a big Am-Box event called the Haringey Box Cup, I got to see him live over a few days & I have to say I think he's a bit special. He's got a fantastic poise in the ring, there are very definite shades of his old man, but I think he looks a lot more fluid.
I'll give you the background that I've picked up. Over here, he's boxed for Brighton & Hove ABC, but he's also done a fair bit out in the States under the tutelage of Floyd Sr. His record stands at only 25 fights, of which he has won 23. His first loss came in his tenth amateur fight in the National Golden Gloves against the top guy in the US at the weight & eventual champ (all subjective as I've heard this 2nd hand). He had already won the Nevada Golden Gloves though. He then came back over here & boxed a bit, getting to the ABA quarter finals before losing, but all wins from there. He's been sparring a lot of pros, reportedly gave George Groves THAT black eye in prep for DeGale & really has a pro style.
Anyway, the Box Cup requires that to win you have to fight 3 times in the space of four days. He won the quarter against Robert Garvey from nearby gym Earlsfield extremely easily (especially given comparative experience), but he didn't look to have too much power as Robert had been a LMW as recent as the ABAs & I've seen him look to be hurt worse on club shows.
Next up he faced a guy who's boxes for the Swiss National Team & here I do have a video. He looked very good here to my eyes & made a guy who has competed to a very high level look really bad, but there were still some doubters at the Box Cup. Anyway make up your own minds, he's in the blue headguard & all-black strip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCn7L6vIXmk
Next he faced Gilson De Jesus, a very strong dude from Nottingham in the final. This guy had scored a pair of brutal 1st round 1 punch KOs on his way to the final, so there was some anticipation he might struggle here, hence the big crowd around the ring (there were another 2 fights going on simultaneously as well) including me leaning into view like a numpty. Completely dominates him & I think this performance is what swung all the doubters. Again in all black, but this time in the red headguard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5qZvFnO2tk
I really like how he's so relaxed & composed & particularly how he never lets any opponent take the initiative. If they land a shot he comes back with 3 or 4 of his own. He's very good at judging distance & this is probably why he battered these guys without ever needing to get out of 2nd gear. I also do like his attitude in the ring, which you might not get from these. There's a lot less of wanting to touch gloves & he comes across as a real callous bastard ;D
It's very rare that I'd say a 25 bout amateur is ready to go pro, but I'm of the belief that he might well end up a fantastic talent, so I might as well get first shout just so I can say 'I told you so' further down the line. Or you can all laugh at me when he gets stopped by Carl Dilks. One or the other :-X:-\
