Chris Eubank Jr is getting knocked out… I’ve already had him on the ropes twice in sparring, reveals JJ McDonagh
The Irish super-middleweight champion takes on Eubank Jnr on the George Groves vs Callum Smith undercard next weekend
IRISH super-middleweight champion JJ McDonagh has vowed to knock out Chris Eubank Jr and end his career once and for all – after already hurting him during a sparring session last year.
McDonagh, 32, fights Eubank Jr in a 10-round bout on the George Groves vs Callum Smith World Boxing Super Series undercard in Saudi Arabia.
The Mullingar fighter picked up the WBA International Light-Heavyweight title in 2016, after a sensational first round knockout against Jake Ball – earning himself a KO of The Year contender in the process.
And McDonagh, who has a 16-4 record across middleweight and light-heavyweight, is confident of a repeat of that come September 28 - and insists their meeting at Jr’s gym in Brighton last June was just a taste of what’s to come.
He told SunSport: “My brother Paddy did seven rounds with him before his fight against Steve Collins Jr.
“I got in for the last three rounds and said to myself ‘let’s see how he likes this power’.
“Paddy’s a lot more technical than me, so I wanted to catch him by surprise.
“I left him on the ropes twice with body shots – his trainer Ronnie (Davies) had to step in.”
McDonagh added: “Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves showed a lot of skill to beat him – but I have the power.
“I can use that to knock him out and end his career once and for all.
“I firmly believe that now is the best opportunity for me to get a stoppage.”
McDonagh was due to face Luke Blackledge next month but that fell through, with the Irishman now preparing for the biggest fight of his career to date.
And he believes Jr’s camp are massively underestimating him ahead of next weekend’s bout – insisting his style will cause the 29-year-old big problems.
He continued: “When my manager called me up about the possibility of this fight we both agreed it was too big an opportunity to turn down.
“This could be life changing for me – it’s an unbelievable opportunity for me.
“It will be a tough fight, but I’m more than ready for him.
“I haven’t taken this fight for the money – it’s all about the opportunities that will come from it.
“I think Jr's been well matched throughout his career and fought guys that are similar to him.
“This is the first time they’ve got somebody in to fight him who won’t just sit back in front of him - I can box the distance.
“They’ve panicked and got me in at the last minute, and they’re going to regret it.”
