Eubank: The Autobiography by Chris Eubank with Martin Roach
HarperCollinsWillow, £18.99
Most people don't really know what to make of Chris Eubank. Is he a punch-drunk boxer, a philosopher, or just trying to stay in the public eye after a brilliant and controversial fight career? 'Eubank: The Autobiography' will answer the question for many.
From childhood delinquency in London, Eubank travelled to the top of the boxing world, becoming World Middleweight Champion after defeating Nigel Benn in one of the greatest, and toughest, fights in living memory. The book chronicles his boxing exploits from beginning to end, but there is much more to it than that.
What strikes immediately is Eubank's desire for acceptance and respect but the loneliness and insecurity that he has strived to forget keep cropping up throughout his career and life. The philosophies and opinions that often lead to comical bemusement from the public stem from this desire for acceptance. Eubank can get a bit self-congratulatory on occasion, but is honest throughout, which one does not always find in sportspersons' autobiographies.
Opinions galore, from OJ Simpson to the Marathon/Snickers name change, are expressed, and while the reader cannot agree with them all, they do make a good read. One for the sports fan and the amateur philosopher alike.
Dónal Moriarty
