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Boxing

Chris Eubank Jr. says Roy Jones Jr. has revitalised his career ahead of in-ring return

Liam Happe
Chris Eubank Jr. says Roy Jones Jr. has revitalised his career ahead of in-ring returnDAZN
After years of controversially competing without a trainer at all, Eubank Jr. feels his legendary cornerman has unlocked new levels of potential.

Chris Eubank Jr. returns to the ring on May 1 on the Dereck Chisora vs. Joseph Parker undercard when he faces Marcus Morrison.

It'll be his first bout since 2019, and he plans on showing the world that at the age of 31, he can begin again as a top contender on the middleweight with his new trainer, the legendary Roy Jones Jr.

Eubank rose up the middleweight rankings in the early 2010s with no trainer and his father, former world champion Chris Eubank Sr., in his corner. However he was found wanting in serious tests against Billy Joe Saunders at 160lbs and George Groves at 168lbs.

Eubank told Sky Sports this week that Jones' influence means he can start over and achieve even more than he did before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Mentally is the biggest part," Eubank said of the Jones effect. "Physically? I'm 31, I won't be a changed fighter, my style is what it is.

"There are things he has tweaked or made me focus on, but the main change is how I mentally approach these fights. The tactics, the thought process, the mind-set that I have now is different.

"Being with him will add years to my career. It's not about going to war every time anymore. It's about being smart and not getting hit.

"Some of those things I had lost focus on. I put that down to moving up to super-middleweight - knowing I was against guys who were naturally bigger, I got it into my head that I had to hurt them early so they didn't bully me. I lost sight of the boxing.

"At middleweight nobody will bully me, nobody is bigger than me, so I can focus on the art and craft rather than the war aspect.

"I will still go to war - when there is an opportunity, these guys will get taken out! But there are new aspects to my game."

Eubank vs. Morrison joins other big showdowns including Katie Taylor vs. Natasha Jonas, Dmitry Bivol vs. Craig Richards and the main event of Chisora vs. Parker on May 1, airing live on DAZN everywhere except the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Samoa.