George Groves has stressed he is not underestimating Chris Eubank, jun – but is in no doubt he will defeat his fellow Briton when they clash this weekend.
The WBA super-middleweight world champion fights Eubank at the Manchester Arena on Saturday in a World Boxing Super Series semi-final.
Groves (27-3, 20 KOs) won his belt last May by beating Fedor Chudinov in what was his fourth attempt at claiming a world title, having previously fallen short against Carl Froch, twice, and Badou Jack.
The 29-year-old has described this bout against Eubank (26-1, 20 KOs) as “easier” than the Froch and Jack fights or even beating James DeGale in 2011.
When asked if there was a danger of him under- estimating Eubank, Groves said: “No. He may go on to prove me wrong, but I do believe my fights against DeGale, Froch, Jack and Chudinov were tougher, not just because they were physically better fighters than Eubank, which I believe they were, but the build-up, the business side of things, the pressure. All were far greater than this.
“I know he’s desperate to win this fight, to become world champion, to believe this is the fight that takes him out of his dad’s shadow. But desire alone is not enough, I have learned.
“I’ve been in fights where I would give anything to win and I get knocked out.
“It is not going to come down to who wants it most. This is about a level I don’t believe he can compete at, and once I start landing big shots, he’s not going to be able to stand up to them.
“I don’t think it will go 12 rounds. I will hurt Eubank and once I have, he is not going to hear the final bell.”
As well as questioning the pedigree of Eubank, who he has sparred with in the past, Groves has mocked the 28-year-old’s social media profile by branding him “Insta famous”, and called him a “cliche” and a “gimmick”.
Eubank hit back by claiming “jealous” Groves would “love” to be him, and said the suit the latter wore to their pre-fight press conference this week was the same as one of his.
In response, Groves said: “There is nothing Eubank does or has done that has influenced me. I’d go as far as to say it is the other way round.
“He is trying to sell himself. He is at the opening of a crisp packet, of a fridge door. He is in the gym every day but he is also at premieres and parties.
“He’s enjoying his moment but it could come crashing down at any point – it might do after he loses to me or he might have done enough to resurrect his career.”