Eubank: Don’t call me Junior after I beat Groves
‘YOU would have to break both my legs and both arms to keep me from getting into the ring in Manchester on Saturday night.’ There is a degree of separation between the Eubanks now. It became visible as Chris Jnr made the above remark with his iconic father nowhere to be seen. ‘It’s not about my old man any longer,’ said Eubank the younger. ‘It’s about me.’ The certainty of his turning up to face George Groves was revealing, since it came in response to persistent speculation that Eubank the elder might yet find an excuse to pull him out of the world supermiddleweight title fight at Manchester Arena. The close relationship between father and son has been the topic of much discussion, not least by Groves who is defending his WBA belt in this semi-final of the first World Super Series tournament. ‘I am striving now to become spoken of as Chris Eubank, myself,’ said the 27-year-old challenger. ‘Not Chris Eubank, Jnr. This is the fight which will separate me from my father. The first of the big fights which will make me my own entity. ‘I am like Marmite. People love me or hate me but they’re all entertained by me. ‘Of course he will be around my corner but it will be me and only me fighting George Groves.’ Eubank’s first aim is to unify the division, in which he holds the lightly regarded IBO world title. Then he would consider trimming back down to middleweight for super-fights against the likes of Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez. ‘I will always have in mind a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders,’ he said. ‘He is the only opponent who’s been given a win over me.’
TV: Groves v Eubank is live on Saturday night on ITV Box Office at £16.95.