Chris Eubank Snr admits he is petrified son does not have what it takes to beat James DeGale
Despite rating Chris Jr alongside the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Sr has hit out at his son's psychological ability to win Saturday's fight
CHRIS EUBANK SR is petrified his son does not have the spirit to beat James DeGale on Saturday.
Despite putting Chris Jr in the same bracket as ring greats Floyd Mayweather and Gennady Golovkin in the past, Sr criticised his son’s courage for the fight.
The two-weight world champion took the strange decision to doubt his son’s mental and psychological ability to beat the two-time IBF champ.
Eubank Sr said: “I am not convinced Junior can win because James DeGale has pedigree, it is real.
“I respect his abilities, Junior has it but it depends who turns up on the night.
“My son looks at the physical game of boxing and I don’t think anyone can stand with him on the physical. But it is also spiritual and that is what Junior lacks.
“This is a 50-50 fight and for the first time I am petrified of what the outcome could be. I am petrified that he might not win this fight.
“Chris has the upper hand with the physical aspect but James might have the upper hand in the spiritual."
But Junior, the 29-year-old Hove brawler, said: "I am going to be too much for him.
"We are both on the edge, we both cannot lose, we are fighting for our careers but I know he cannot handle the heat.
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"He is going to ring thinking ‘can i survive’ and can he? Absolute not.
"He is going to be begging to quit."
West London star DeGale reacted to a Tweet from Eubank Jr, saying: "He tweeted me and asked me not run, to not rob the fans of a slugfest, basically asking me not to use my skills, he was begging me to stand there and slug and not use my skills. That is because he cannot box.
"He’s hoping I am shot and don’t live the life and that I party too much and like a drink."