BELOW THE BELT
Eubank has no chance against DeGale ...says his own sparring partner!
The American sparring partner flown expensively across the Atlantic by Chris eubank Jnr to help him prepare for tomorrow night’s grudge fight is predicting that James DeGale will be victorious at the O2.
eubank was startled to be told not only that Denis Douglin expects him to lose but that he has gone public with that prediction.
Upon his return to the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas, Douglin gave an interview in which he said: ‘I expect DeGale to win. Chris fell for the simple traps I set him and James is much better and slicker than I am. If I can trick him then DeGale will cause him big problems.’
This is a serious breach of boxing etiquette on two counts. What happens in sparring is supposed to stay in the gym, and the sparring partner is expected to be loyal to the employer.
eubank is doubly disappointed since Douglin spent six weeks living in his house in Brighton, along with his new full-time US trainer, Nate Vasquez.
Douglin (right) added: ‘I hate to say this because I had a good time in england and we did some excellent sparring. But while Chris is physically strong James is much more skilled and will win.’
When told of the betrayal, eubank said: ‘It does surprise me. It is contrary to what he was telling people before we broke camp. We had some good hard sparring, both technical and physical, and it was an excellent camp.’
DeGale was shocked, saying: ‘Douglin said that? I would have been very unhappy if one of my sparring partners said something like that about me. While he was still here he was telling people that I’m rubbish. But I guess he can say what he thinks now he’s gone home with the pay cheque.
‘And he’s only saying what most people believe: that Chris is not a good enough boxer to beat anyone with my skills.’
The American’s breach of faith was not the only shock at the final press conference before the fight. eubank’s legendary father revealed that he is ‘ terrified Junior will lose this fight’. Chris Snr explained: ‘Junior has all the physical elements to be a great champion but there is the question of the spirituality. ‘I had that in abundance and it was important to my 19 world title fights. I respect James because he proved he has the spiritual attribute by winning his Olympic gold medal and then his world titles against high quality opposition.’ eubank Jnr’s only defeats were by Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves. his father added: ‘We must see what transpires in the ring. As it stands now this is a 50-50 fight.’ The predictable exchange of insults and provocation — with DeGale calling eubank ‘idiot, moron, delusional’ and eubank accusing him of being ‘a drinker’ — was less surprising than a suggestion that their old rival Groves had been pulled from the ITV commentary team for the O2 after one of them objected.
Both denied lodging that protest. eubank Snr suggested that DeGale’s parents were responsible. ‘Chunky’ pointed the finger straight back at him.
ITV then reinstated Groves, who has defeated both fighters: DeGale narrowly and eubank convincingly before retiring after losing his world super-middleweight title.
TV and radio: LIVE on ITV Box Office and talkSPORT tomorrow from 7pm.