EUBANK JNR: I’LL DRIVE DEGALE TO RETIREMENT
By JEFF POWELL Boxing Correspondent
CHRIS EUBANK JNR roared up for training day in his new £220,000 McLaren road car and promptly distanced himself from easymoney footballers who preen themselves in racy motors. The orange-and-black beast sat purring outside the dingy gym on his home-town Brighton seafront as Eubank went through his gruelling paces prior to his grudge fight with James DeGale. ‘Do not compare me with football stars who drive flash cars,’ he said. ‘I’ve paid for this the hard way. Boxing is the toughest, noblest, grittiest, most lifethreatening way to make a living in sport. I’ve earned the right to buy and drive whatever I want.’ The trophy vehicle costs around one-tenth of his projected £2million-plus purse for his fight with DeGale, which has festered since he posted this tweet after a sparring session seven years ago: ‘Just back from gym. Schooled James DeGale. First time I’ve heard trash talk from someone while he’s being hit in the face.’ DeGale’s version differs but both agree that defeat in their IBO world super-middleweight title match at London’s O2 could spell the virtual end of one of their careers. ‘But don’t worry for me,’ Eubank assured us. ‘I’ll win this.’ DeGale v Eubank is LIVE on ITV Box Office a week tomorrow.