LAST CHANCE SALOON Eubank Jr targets DeGale in fight he ‘can’t afford to lose’

CHAMPING AT THE BIT: Chris Eubank Jr knows he has to beat James DeGale if he wants to scale the same heights as dad Chris CHRIS EUBANK JR admits losing another Battle of Britain clash on Saturday would shatter his dreams of becoming a legitimate world champ like his dad.

A year after he was outpointed by George Groves for the WBA world super-middleweight title, Eubank takes on James DeGale at London’s O2 Arena looking to settle a seven-year feud for the fringe IBO belt. Losing to Groves led Eubank to make changes to how he prepares for fights and he insists he will be better against former world No.1 DeGale now he has a full-time trainer. Eubank, 29, will have American Nate Vasquez in his corner for the first time having previously prepared for fights without a lead trainer.

Another loss would be a disaster for Eubank’s ambitions of scaling the heights his father Chris Snr reached as world champion at middleweight and super-middleweight in the 1990s.

He said: “We both can’t afford to lose. We’re both in a position where a loss would be devastating. You have a fierce rivalry and these factors are going to make it a classic fight. I definitely can’t afford a loss – it’s do or die.

“It was a great fight against George Groves. I got cut and that was new. I had to deal with that. The preparation was not adequate and there were things I didn’t do that I should have.

“This fight I will have a gameplan and strategy. I will have training according to how James DeGale fights.

“Against George Groves I didn’t have any focus. I guessed it. My sparring partners for that fight were nothing like Groves. I was sparring a cruiserweight.

“We are doing everything completely different this time and you will see a new and improved Chris Eubank Jr.

“I can’t say it was a mistake not having a trainer because I’ve had so many great fights and performances.

“But I’ve come to realise that at this elite level you can’t give your opponents these advantages and not have a trainer.

“Not having a focused training camp is giving your opponent an advantage in the fight. It’s tailored training for the first time in my career and I can see the improvement.

“James DeGale is a slick, experienced southpaw so everything is tailored to his style. I’m seeing some great results and it’s about going out there and doing what I’ve been doing in the gym.”