Throughout his reign as world heavyweight champion, David Haye merely anticipated to undergo the gears and work up a slight sweat when he was requested to spar with the middleweight son of British boxing legend Chris Eubank.
Eubank Jr, an novice prospect weighing nearly 60lbs lower than his bulkier combatant on the time, was initially visiting Haye's fitness center to finish rounds with stablemate and super-middleweight hopeful George Groves.
After doing so the chance arose to hold out a civilised, uncompetitive spar with Haye, but in the long run his strong resolve and startling tenacity left an enduring impression on the heavyweight chief.
'I sparred with Chris years in the past when he was simply coming via and I bear in mind the depth he had,' Haye recalled in an interview with Sportsmail.
'Keep in mind, I am the heavyweight champion on the time and he was a middleweight, I feel he was an novice, and he was actually, actually going for it.
'He was in there sparring with George Groves, so I did just a few rounds with each of the fighters, and I bear in mind pondering "he's got it".
'He was actually on the lookout for the massive photographs, he was pondering, he was slipping [shots], and I bear in mind simply pondering, "he's gonna make it this kid".'
Eubank Jr, now a seasoned skilled with 31 wins and two defeats on his file, is gearing up for one of the vital essential outings of his profession in opposition to bitter rival Liam Williams in Cardiff on Saturday night time.
Toppling the Welshman in his personal yard would depart him on the cusp of a second world-title alternative, having suffered defeat when he locked horns with Groves for the WBA super-middleweight strap in 2018, and go a good distance in justifying Haye's forecast.
The primary crack at world honours in opposition to Groves led to disappointment largely due to the cussed, self-righteous angle he exuded on the time. With out an official coach guiding him within the nook, Eubank, reluctant to tackle board a lot recommendation in these early days, thought he knew greatest and finally paid the worth for such naivety.
Quick ahead 4 years and that's now not the case, with four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr, an all-time nice of the game, now navigating the profession of Eubank Sr's offspring.
Jones has been working with Eubank Jr for the very best a part of two years now and the pair loved as many victories collectively in 2021; first incomes a large factors determination over Marcus Morrison in Might, earlier than stopping Wanik Awdijan inside the gap 5 months later.
And regardless of some criticism over Eubank's fluidity and rhythm in these wins, Haye has noticed enhancements already.
'Over time Roy Jones Jr has been one of many masters of timing, rhythm, setting traps, utilizing his pure athleticism and cat-like reflexes. Chris Eubank Jr has numerous these attributes; he is received the motion, he is received the pace, he slips photographs and he is received that granite chin,' he defined.
'So I feel it is a terrific matchup. I've favored what I've seen and I've appreciated what I used to be watching. I wasn't watching somebody go on the market and take a look at their very hardest to knock somebody out, what I noticed was anyone who's an elite, world-class fighter making an attempt one thing new below the lights with the strain on and passing with flying colors.
'He regarded very calm, he wasn't taking pointless punishment, he was selecting his photographs, and he truly had one stage the place he had his opponent (Morrison) within the nook, fully out on his ft, and he may have closed the present. However as a substitute of doing that to get a show-reel knockout, he is fascinated by the massive image, he steps again, he lets his opponent get better as a result of he is nonetheless engaged on issues that he is been practising with Roy within the fitness center.
'Some guys do not have the mentality to try this, however he is a deep thinker, he is a really sensible fighter and it isn't nearly getting them out of there, it is about wanting good and it is concerning the world-title fights, the massive ones. These are the warm-ups in his thoughts. That is simply practising what he wants to select up these titles.
'It was good to see him being affected person. Endurance is one thing I have not seen very a lot from junior.'
Haye's good buddy is the pre-fight favorite heading into his showdown with Williams, whose spirited effort in opposition to WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade final 12 months led to a unanimous factors defeat.
Although earlier than that, the 29-year-old had bounced again from consecutive losses in opposition to Liam Smith to embark on a seven-fight win streak; rebuilding confidence and propelling himself into the world combine because of this.
Whereas he's nonetheless looking for a career-defining scalp, Williams has already confirmed he's no pushover at elite degree and can fancy his possibilities of springing an upset in entrance of seven,500 Welsh followers.
'I actually suppose lots of people have written him off fully,' Haye stated. 'They don't seem to be giving him a lot of a shout, however he is a bona fide world-class middleweight.
'You may put him in with anyone and he'll give them a tough night time's work, that is simply who he's. And in case you're not prime 10 on this planet, he is in all probability gonna beat you. He actually is. He is that man.
'He is received a terrific engine, a strong, strong chin and his defence is not that unhealthy. He is received a terrific punch output, he is all the time in great form. So Chris is gonna have to be on his greatest kind.'
As he bids to upset the apple cart Williams shall be roared on by a house crowd baying for the blood of his flashy, cocksure rival. All through his profession Eubank, whose extravagant gown sense and warranted persona emulates that of his iconic father, has had a bent to rub individuals up the fallacious method.
He'll subsequently assume the position of pantomime villain on Saturday night time, public enemy No 1 within the Welsh capital, and Haye expects him to relish it.
'Chris feeds off the power of the rabid crowd and he is gonna adore it,' the 41-year-old insisted. 'He is gonna love going on the market and placing on a boxing show in opposition to all people's cousin, buddy, buddy - all people there in all probability is aware of Williams or has shaken his hand or had a drink with him at some stage - and he is getting in there not solely to interrupt Williams' coronary heart, however to interrupt each single Welshman's coronary heart on the market.
'He is the kind of man who likes that type of problem and thinks, "I'm gonna go right into your backyard, I'm gonna go there and and whoop your ass in front of all your family, all your friends."
'I like that mindset. I needed to do it myself once I went to Levallois in Paris to combat for my world title [against Jean-Marc Mormeck], so I have been there. Nikolai Valuev, I've gone to international shores to have my greatest challenges, and it labored out okay for me.
'If Chris Eubank Jr is the person he says he's, then this actually needs to be, not a formality, however there are ranges on this sport and Williams has proven in opposition to Andrade that it was a spirited effort, it actually was, however that is at that degree.'
So who's Haye anticipating to prevail on the Motorpoint Area? He's struggling to look previous his shut pal.
'I might be very, very stunned if Chris does not win this combat,' Haye stated. 'I feel having Roy Jones Jr in his nook will play a large half.
'Roy has received a terrific boxing IQ. I've spoken with him quite a few instances and you already know while you're speaking to somebody and so they're as a lot as a genius as they have been within the ring after they break stuff down for you. He is received this processing energy in his mind the place he can let you know one thing that is taking place otherwise to different individuals, as a result of he is telling you it from his personal experiences.
'I had the same fashion to him, I type of primarily based my fashion loosely on among the stuff he did, so I get it and perceive why the teachings that he is imparting over to Chris Eubank Jr are gonna be helpful.
'So I might be very, very stunned if Chris Eubank Jr does not win this combat. I will be stunned if he stops Liam Williams, however I feel there's an opportunity he may do after eight or 9 rounds. If it is a slugfest and so they're going toe to toe I am assured that the engine of Chris Eubank Jr will surpass Williams.
'However Williams has received Adam Sales space in his nook now, and Adam Sales space makes certain that his fighters are in tip-top situation. So it is two nice coaches in each corners, you have received two nice fighters, very evenly matched... I feel that is getting the hype it deserves.'