Must win: Eubank Jnr is still looking for a big-name victory
DeGale, 32, should be at the top of his game, but injuries have hindered the later few years of his career leaving him with, by his own admission, less-than-impressive performances, one of which cost him his IBF world title to the vastly unfancied Caleb Truax.
Conscious of the effects a tough career has had on his body, ‘Chunky’ has had to adapt his training methods to ensure he’s ready for war come fight night.
“Time has gone so quick,” says DeGale speaking to Sport360°
“I’ve been working hard and putting in the graft for this fight, but I’ve had to change my training because of my injuries. I’ve taken out the majority of my running and I’m doing a lot of swimming and rowing as substitutes. It feels like I’m taking it back to when I was 22. I feel fresh and rejuvenated.”
The former world champion insists his new regime will bring out the best in him, but he can also expect to come up against the best Eubank Jnr – having finally hired his first full-time boxing trainer. Unfazed, DeGale continues to laugh off claims his rival is even in his league.
“I’m a realist and Chris Eubank ain’t. If I can’t beat him, it means I’ve gone backwards,” he says bluntly.
Although he himself knows he’s not been the boxer he could, and perhaps should, have been in recent times.
“A couple of years ago people wouldn’t have even put us together, but obviously my recent performances have ended up with us here. My last few performances have been below par, they haven’t been vintage me, if I’m being honest,” DeGale explains before detailing his achievements.
“The difference between us is I’m proven, I don’t have to go through my resume. I’ve won Olympic Gold, British champion, European champion, two-time world champion I’ve boxed the best in the world, I’ve fought in America, our careers are total opposites, when he has stepped up a level, he’s lost and that’s a fact.”
Eubank Jnr has indeed lost in both his biggest fights – to Billy Joe Saunders back in 2014 and most recently to George Groves a year ago. He comes into this domestic dust up following a glorified exhibition fight against Irishman JJ McDonagh at the end of August, further fuelling DeGale’s claims the former IBO title-holder isn’t up to the task.
“He’s earned a bit of money and had a right touch, he’s living off his Dad’s name. He’s had two proper opportunities and he’s lost both times. He’s tough, he’s got a lot of game, he’s got a good chin, he doesn’t mind if it gets hard and tough and you need that to be a good fighter, but he’s limited. He’s technically not the best.”
DeGale knows a loss to Eubank Jnr leaves him with little or no place to turn in the sport, especially after hopes of a big-money rematch against bitter rival Groves have been dashed with the Londoner announcing his retirement in January.Despite that, the two-time champ remains confident he holds the cards when it comes to dictating his future.
“I’ve learned from the past that I can’t plan too far ahead as you never know what’s going to happen in boxing,” he says. “I’ve still got a couple of years left. I don’t know what I’m going to do, I’m going to beat Eubank and sit back and be sitting in a very comfortable position. I may knock it on the head, I may have one more fight, I may have five more fights, I don’t know.
“Looking forward, I’m with the main man Al Haymon and he’s got a lot of world champions and there’s a lot of fights out there for me, when I come through this fight there’s going to be a choice of who to box.
“In terms of Eubank’s career, I’ve dubbed it the retirement fight, but I suppose he could go back down to middleweight, I’ve heard in interviews he’s a natural middleweight so he could have a go there. But I don’t think he’s world class. I really don’t.
Tasting defeat: A below-par DeGale lost to Caleb Truax at Copper Box Arena on December 9, 2017 in London
“If I’m being honest the majority of my quality performances have been away from home but I see this as a second coming. I had three successful defences of my world title, then I got injured and my last couple of performances haven’t been vintage, but this time around I’m coming again. I’m going to beat him and have one more go at winning a world title.”
Money is often the defining factor in choosing what bout to take next when fighters reaches the twilight of their career. Eubank is expected to pocket a career-high purse from this scrap, and while DeGale won’t be doing badly himself, he insists the cash is nice, but it’s not why he’s getting in the ring.
He says: “Honestly the main motivation for me is the glory. I love being known for what I’ve done and who I’ve beaten in my career. Obviously the money comes with it and that’s just a bonus.”
DeGale v Eubank Jnr takes place at the O2 Arena, Saturday 23rd February. Tickets are available from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk. Watch exclusively live on ITV Box Office, for further information go to www.itvboxoffice.com
