Piers pulls ‘punches’ with Chris Eubank

Piers Morgan has never been one to pull his punches.

And the former Daily Mirror and News of the World editor is not about to change that tonight, despite sitting next to one of the most talked about boxers of his generation.

Piers’ latest guest is Chris Eubank and, like all individuals featured on this chat show, he has led quite a life.

The Good Morning Britain host takes a ringside seat next to the former world middleweight champion as he recalls his gripping and extraordinary life.

Born on August 8, 1966, in Dulwich, south London, from two months to six years old Eubank was raised in Jamaica. On his return to England, he lived in Stoke Newington, Dalston, Hackney and Peckham, in a largely impoverished environment.

Aged 15, Eubank was ejected from the last in a long line of care homes and was living on the streets. His life was a mess of shoplifting, burglary, drink and drugs from which there seemed no escape. Then, in 1981, in a last-ditch attempt to drag himself from the abyss, he relocated to New York with his mother.

He started boxing and within two years he had won the prestigious Spanish Golden Gloves Amateur title and a professional career beckoned.

After a string of victories, Eubank eventually exploded into the public consciousness in November 1990 with a ferocious defeat of long-time rival Nigel Benn for the WBO Middleweight title. Once crowned champion, he made 19 successful defences of his title, with his ITV’s prime-time world title fights turning him into a sporting superstar.

But boxing is only half of Chris’s story, and during this talk with Piers, he recalls his involvement in a car crash which saw a man die, how he became Lord of the Manor of Brighton, his relationship with Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, his passion for his truck, jeeps and motorbikes, and his legendary sartorial elegance and extravagance.

He also recalls his reaction to Michael Watson’s near-fatal injuries sustained in their infamous 1992 fight, his pride at his son’s Chris Jr’s boxing career, his divorce, and his current views on the ‘mugs game’ from which he previously made his living. Finally, he discusses his post-ring transformation into a ‘TV celebrity’.

During his illustrious boxing career, Eubank, who turns 55 in the summer, became the man the fans loved to hate. But over the years, thanks to a bit of showbiz bobbing and weaving, the public appears to have warmed to him. And dare we say it, the same can perhaps be said about about Morgan these days, with Good Morning Britain’s ratings are now at an all-time high.

Last month there was (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) speculation that he could replace Boris Johnson after a year of talking about politics and the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘King of Conversation’ Piers responded by saying he would go into politics if “the people want me”, adding: “Who am I to ignore the will of the people?”

Okay, the ‘Piers for PM’ campaign may be a bit of a stretch – his GMB co-host Susanna Reid joked: “If you ever become Prime Minister, I’m getting on a yacht and going to the south of France.”

However, if he wants tips on boosting his popularity further, he might get some from this blow-by-blow account from Mr Eubank, another heavy hitter who has always refused to throw in the towel.

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