Harlem Eubank reveals his desire to be next world champion in the famous boxing family after stunning debut KO
HARLEM EUBANK, cousin to Chris Eubank Jr, marked his professional debut last Saturday with a spectacular knockout win.
After jumping over the top rope in typical Eubank fashion, Harlem took just 2mins 30secs to take his first win, stopping game Croatian Anto Nakic in the very first round after a number of knockdowns.
Eubank celebrated the victory with a backflip in the middle of the ring sending his professional career of to a flying start.
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Uncle Chris Eubank Sr and Chris Eubank Jr were ringside cheering on 23-year-old Harlem at the Metropole Hotel, Brighton.
We caught up with the latest addition to ‘Team Eubank’ and asked him what his plans are for the future.
“MY DEBUT went as smoothly as I visualised, I’ve been looking forward to start my professional pursuit for quite a while and I had prepared well – the pro game suits me,” Harlem exclusively told SunSport.
Talking about the switch from the amateurs to the pro ranks, Harlem said he feels free to express his natural style in the pro’s.
He added: “The main difference between the amateurs and the pros for me is that the amateurs is more limited, the judges, officials and referees prefer a ‘by the book style,’ I have often been warned of disqualification when my creativity shines through in the ring.
“In the pros I feel like I can express my creativity and have fun in there – there’s less boundaries and my natural fighting style can come out freely.”
Harlem said he always had his sights set on the professional game, so to get himself ready he would put himself up against the toughest of opposition in the amateurs.
“From my first fight my eyes have always been on the professional game,” he added.
“I know I needed experience, so I used the amateurs as a learning tool and threw myself into the toughest fights on little experience to mould me and initiate progress in the shortest time frame possible.
“Doing so has moulded me as a fighter and prepared me for the pro game.”
Eubank says he aims to go right to the top in boxing, “to be the best,” showing he has all of the ambition and confidence we have come to expect from Eubank fighters.
He added: “If you aim for the pinnacle you can’t fall far below, that’s just how I am, I have been inspired by great fighters, so that’s where I see myself in the future, I know there will be many goals and targets along the way.
Talking of the pressure of carrying such a famous boxing name, Harlem Eubank says it’s how you use that pressure, it can consume you if you are not careful.
“There is always more pressure carrying the Eubank name – there has been since my first amateur fight.
“It’s how you use that pressure, it can consume you or you can use it to drive you.
“I have learnt how to use it to drive me forward, every opponent wants to beat you that extra bit so you get the best out of every opponent, which only develops my skill set further.
“I have learnt the craft in the amateurs by jumping in at the deep end.
Harlem said how he plans to avoid no one on he quest for glory.
“In the future I want to fight the best so whoever’s considered the best fighters in the division at that time, that’s who I want to fight.
“There’s no names specifically, but I want to fight the people considered to be the best in the division once I have learnt my craft,” Harlem said.
Harlem’s is inspired by creative fighters of the past such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Prince Naseem Hamed and of course, Chris Eubank Snr and Jr.
“I’m inspired by creative fighters, that have something a little different that sets them apart,” Harlem said.
“Fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Meldrick Taylor, Parnell Whitaker Prince Naseem Hamed, Floyd Mayweather, and my uncle and cousin, they all have something a little different that sets them apart from normal fighters.
“These are the fighters I like to watch -they grab my attention, that’s what I’m inspired by.”
When asked how would he explain his style, Harlem said he likens his style to that of a boxer puncher, he doesn’t just go in there and get the job done with one punch, he likes to show off his boxing ability also.
“I would say I’m a boxer puncher, again I like to be creative in the ring, I like to use different movements angles to evade punches whilst coming back with counters, I like exploring movement in there.