Former Trainer To Chris Eubank Jr.: “I Don’t Know If Jumping Trainers Will Help Him”
Nate Vasquez had some words of advice for IBO super middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. after Eubank chose to go to another trainer.
Eubank and Vasquez had signed on to work together but after Eubank’s most recent win against James DeGale back in February, the two have yet to speak. Instead, Eubank went to Virgil Hunter’s gym in California. Whether or not Eubank working with Hunter is a permanent thing or not, Vasquez hopes that Eubank can stick to one trainer for the long haul.
“I don’t know if jumping trainers will help him,” Vasquez told Sky Sports. “You can’t learn if you’re jumping trainers from time to time. If you go from trainer to trainer to trainer, it’s not good.”
However, Vasquez was also quick to say that his comments are not simply sour grapes for Eubank going somewhere else immediately after the win over DeGale, saying, “I got the best win of his career with him. I’m not mad at him if he goes to another trainer.”
When asked about his personal thoughts on the matter, Vasquez remained skeptical that the Eubank-Hunter partnership will last long without a presence from Eubank’s team. Eubank was described as a pressure fighter by Vasquez and if someone tries to change Eubank’s style into more of a prototypical boxer, then the end result might not yield much success.
“I don’t think Chris Jr. will do a training camp in California without any of his people there. And I don’t think Virgil Hunter will leave California. Chris wants to be a boxer but he needs a lot of work on his footwork, and his style isn’t meant to be a boxer like Roy Jones Jr. or Andre Ward. Some styles can’t change and, if he changed, it wouldn’t suit him. My main purpose was to work on his defense, his jab and to get him to throw combos. You don’t want to change anybody too much. Chris is a pressure fighter and if you change him into a boxer it won’t go well for him,” Vasquez said.
Eubank’s win over DeGale by unanimous decision headlined a PBC card from the O2 Arena with DeGale announcing his retirement days later. No announcement on Eubank’s next fight has yet to be made.
