Eubank has no chance against DeGale… says his own sparring partner!

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Below the belt: Chris Eubank Jnr has no chance of beating James DeGale in O2 Arena showdown, says his own sparring partner Denis Douglin!

  • Chris Eubank Jnr faces James DeGale at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night
  • The IBO super-middleweight bout has also been dubbed a retirement fight
  • Denis Douglin lived with Eubank while working as his main sparring partner 
  • But he admitted: ‘I expect DeGale to win. Chris fell for the simple traps I set him’

Jeff Powell For The Daily Mail

The American sparring partner flown expensively across the Atlantic by Chris Eubank Jnr to help him prepare for his Saturday night 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. 

James DeGale (left) and Chris Eubank Jnr trade insults at their press conference on Thursday

James DeGale (left) and Chris Eubank Jnr trade insults at their press conference on Thursday

James DeGale (left) and Chris Eubank Jnr trade insults at their press conference on Thursday

Denis Douglin sparred with Eubank but has remarkably admitted: ‘I expect DeGale to win'

Denis Douglin sparred with Eubank but has remarkably admitted: ‘I expect DeGale to win'

Denis Douglin sparred with Eubank but has remarkably admitted: ‘I expect DeGale to win’

‘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.

Eubank Jnr (right) faces DeGale for the IBO super-middleweight title in London on Saturday

Eubank Jnr (right) faces DeGale for the IBO super-middleweight title in London on Saturday

Eubank Jnr (right) faces DeGale for the IBO super-middleweight title in London on Saturday

Douglin 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 been very unhappy if one of my sparring partners had said something like this 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.’  

Eubank's legendary father (left) revealed that he is 'terrified Junior will lose this fight'

Eubank's legendary father (left) revealed that he is 'terrified Junior will lose this fight'

Eubank’s legendary father (left) revealed that he is ‘terrified Junior will lose this fight’

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 have come against former world champions Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves and his father adds: ‘We must see what transpires in the ring. As it stands now this is a 50-50 fight.’ 

The predictable exchanges 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 02 after one of them objected to him taking the microphone.

Both the combatants denied lodging that protest. Eubank Snr suggested that DeGale’s parents were responsible.

Chunky pointed the finger straight back at his opponent’s father.

The public exposure of the issue seemed to activate ITV’s reinstatement of Groves, who said later that he ‘still expects’ to launch a new future as a broadcaster at the 02..

The Saint defeated the other two parties to their sometimes bitter three-way rivalry, DeGale narrowly early in their careers and Eubank convincingly before retiring after losing his world super-middleweight title.

*DeGale v Eubank will televised live this Saturday night on ITV Box Office.

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