Chris Eubank announced his retirement from the ring in October 1995. He made a quick comeback in 1996, however, defeating Luis Dionisio Barrera and Camilo Alarcon. After Steve Collins withdrew from his WBO super-middleweight title defence against Joe Calzaghe and unexpectedly retired in October 1997, Calzaghe was matched against Eubank for the vacant title with eleven days notice. Eubank had been scheduled to box at light-heavyweight on the undercard. Eubank was knocked down twice and lost on points to Calzaghe, but saw his popularity rise as a result of managing to finish the fight against his more fancied opponent. Eubank then added
Chris Eubank en route to his victories and defeats, and for this he is said to have a "granite" chin. His son, Chris Eubank Jr., is also a professional boxer. Eubank, was born on 8 August 1966, in Dulwich, South London, to Rachel Scollins. From two months to six years old he was raised in Jamaica. On his return to England, he lived in Stoke Newington, Dalston, Hackney and then Peckham, in a largely impoverished environment. He attended Northwold Primary School in Upper Clapton, Bellingden Junior School, and then Thomas Calton Secondary School in Peckham, from where he was suspended eighteen times