It’s the British grudge match that supposedly “everyone was asking for”. Chris Eubank Jr. vs. James DeGale is a super-middleweight clash built off of sparring stories and, more importantly, a battle of egos.
At different stages of their careers, as well as different levels of achievement, Eubank and DeGale find themselves at a crossroads in the 168-pounds division. Dubbed by ‘Chunky’ DeGale as a “retirement fight” for both men, the loser may find themselves road blocked in the super-middleweight division, without a true path in sight to climb the mountain; a mountain that Britain’s Callum Smith currently sits on top of.
A true 50/50 is an enticing prospect inside London’s 02 Arena on Saturday night, with all four outcomes arguably feasible – a rare admission coming into a headline fight these days.
Chris Eubank Jr. by KO, TKO or Disqualification @ 15/8 (BetVictor)
The biggest hurdle for James DeGale coming into this fight is within himself. The former Olympic gold medalist has looked a shadow of himself in recent outings against underwhelming opposition, and with miles on the clock and battle scars at the age of 33, this may be one step too far for ‘Chunky’.
His back-to-back fights with the relatively unknown Caleb Truax raised several eyebrows in boxing circles. Citing an injury as the reason behind his loss of the IBF 168-pounds strap in the first fight was followed by a bruising rematch where he wrestled back his title; DeGale would later vacate his trinket to avoid fighting his mandatory.
His best performance was over three years ago when he bested Andre Dirrell over 12-rounds. That title-winning night in Massachusetts was followed by defences against Lucian Bute, Rogelio Medina and Badou Jack, where the champion took a lot more punishment than was needed. DeGale has a tendency to switch off in the latter half of fights, allowing an onslaught from his opponents.
For all of DeGale’s shortcomings, Eubank Jr. is yet to prove his worth. Twice he has stepped up to the level that he will face on Saturday, and twice he has failed: two points losses on the cards to Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.
For all the flashy clips we see of Junior in training, his ring IQ consistency lets him down when it matters most. Sure, he can unleash hundreds of punches in a round, but when his feet and positioning are all wrong then the shots won’t score. His athleticism shouldn’t be slept on, however, in a fight against a worn down DeGale.
Eubank finally has a trainer in his corner for this fight. Whether he will listen to the instructions of Nate Vasquez is another story all together, but at least Junior has accepted his flaws and isn’t willing to continue hiding.
DeGale isn’t as savvy inside the squared circle as George Groves – I expect ‘Chunky’ to engage in war with Eubank on at least two occasions in the latter rounds. This could prove pivotal. We all know Eubank has the miles in the bank to reach the final bell swinging, and a lapse in concentration could prove to be the end of James DeGale’s career.
I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘Chunky’; however, I get a sneaky suspicion that it might just be Eubank’s time. Finally.
