Groves is my defining fight – Eubank Jr.
CHRIS Eubank Jr believes overcoming George Groves in their world title showdown this weekend can prove a cornerstone in his career.
Groves is making the second defence of his WBA supermiddleweight title at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night while his younger British foe is putting his lesserregarded IBO crown on the line.
A place in the final of the World Boxing Super Series final is also at stake and Eubank Jr accepts this could be the bout that moves him out of his famous father and namesake’s shadow as he eyes hoovering up all the belts in the 168lbs division.
He said at the pre-fight press conference: “This is a defining fight for me, this is the fight that can propel me to the top of the sport, it gives me the right to say I am legitimately the best super-middleweight in the world. I’m coming for all the belts. After this tournament all the other guys who hold belts are all on the hit-list. George Groves is just the first one to bite the dust.
“This is my time, this is my opportunity to prove everything I’ve been saying is real and it’s to prove that the doubters, the nay-sayers, the keyboard warriors are wrong. I don’t think George is fully committed to this fight and I don’t think he’s willing to give everything to win. I am and there’s nothing that George can do to stop me.”
Groves won a world title at the fourth attempt by stopping Fedor Chudinov last May, having fallen short in previous attempts against Carl Froch, twice, and Badou Jack, before defeating Jamie Cox in his first defence.
While he played down suggestions of the importance of this fight to him, Groves rubbished Eubank Jr questioning his desire.
He said: “This is not my biggest fight to date but I am in the form of my life, certainly in the best shape of my career, and fully prepared to go out and retain my world title in style. I’m world champion and I want to continue to be. I’ve been through some terrible times to get to where I am now. Desire is one thing that I know I’ve always had in abundance. I’ve been able to pick myself up from the lowest of points to get back to the top.”