The trouble with boxing is that the real thing is invariably preceded by faux outrage and empty rhetoric, but it was nonetheless a minor jolt to hear Chris Eubank admit he was “petrified” about the outcome of his son’s career-defining fight against James DeGale on Saturday night.
Senior (or “English”, to use his preferred handle) was the master of surprises in his fighting days and did not disappoint in his role as father and sometime adviser to Eubank Jr when he declared: “It’s definitely a 50-50 fight. I am petrified he may not win this.” He added: “I’m not convinced [Junior] will win, because James DeGale has pedigree in terms of being [an Olympic] gold medallist, twice a world champion. It’s real. I respect the man’s abilities. Junior has it – but who turns up on the night?
“This is going to be strange to the audience but my son looks at the physical aspect of this person, the crowd – the physical game. And from a physical point of view, I don’t think there is anyone who can actually stand with him. But it isn’t just physical – it’s also spiritual. This is where Junior lacks that blessing. It’s the only thing that allowed me to win so many championship fights and allowed me to put up with the bigotry of the media, the keyboard warriors, the critics. I’ve endured it all because, spiritually, I am buoyant, alive. I’ve never come down to that level but I don’t know whether he has that.”
The fighters, whose supposed mutual animus was diluted by rolling banter, meet at the O2 Arena in London for the vacant IBO super-middleweight title in a bout both say will either end or extend their careers.
DeGale, who turned 33 three weeks ago, lost his IBF 12st belt to the lightly regarded American Caleb Truax in 2017 before winning the rematch and stopping the obscure Colombian underachiever Fidel Monterrosa Muñoz in three rounds in an eight-rounder last September.
He waved away Eubank Sr’s praise and doubts to train his pre-fight ire at 29-year-old Junior, who has lost twice: to Billy Joe Saunders, who returns to the ring next month, when he challenges Shefat Isufi for the WBO’s vacant version of the same title, and George Groves, who has retired.
DeGale, whose experience should give him an edge, described Eubank as a, “deluded moron”, and added: “It’s all dawned on him – he’s finished. I promise you, he will get a schooling.” Addressing his opponent directly, he said, “I am going to come out and give it to you properly. You can’t box, Chris.” He added: “This is the biggest fight of his career, retirement time. Whoever loses this is done.”
Eubank, less voluble than his father, replied” “We are both on the edge and at a stage where we can’t lose.”
Having persuaded his father to take a back seat in his career while retaining the corner smarts of Ronnie Davies, Eubank brings with him this time the experienced trainer Nate Vasquez, a former outstanding amateur who works in Floyd Mayweather’s Las Vegas gym and has been with Eubank constantly in a long preparation.
The American was brutal with Eubank when they began, telling him: “Your defence is shit, your footwork’s horrible and you’ve got a lot to work on.”
Eubank, who invited Vasquez to move in with him, said: “For the first time in my career we are focusing on strategy and game plan in a tailored boxing camp, preparing me for a slick southpaw. We have covered all bases, that is why I am so confident. If he runs we have a game plan, if he stands and plants his feet, we have a plan.”
