Chris Eubank Jr weighs in pound heavier than DeGale after admitting struggle with mental battle against bigger fighter

CHRIS EUBANK Jr weighed-in a pound heavier than James DeGale today after admitting he struggled with the mental fight against a bigger man.

The 29-year-old is naturally a 11st 6lb middleweight but he campaigns a division above for more big-money fights.

The Brighton brawler scaled in at 167lbs (11st 13.5lbs), with Chunky coming in a 166lbs (11st 12lbs) though the two-time IBF champ is expected to gain around half a stone overnight.

Eubank Jr, who was manhandled by the naturally bigger George Groves in February, told SunSport: “I eat whatever I want, as much as I want, I eat constantly to keep myself at super-middleweight and I am still getting used to not starving myself, but it does mean I am fighting a bigger man.

“It is not a great thing to know and think about going into the fight but you have to be confident in your own ability as a fighter.

“I am sparring and fighting guys much bigger than me so I am used to giving away a lot of weight.

“There are a lot of other dimensions to the fight. Moving forward I am definitely open to fighting at middleweight.

“I am a natural middleweight and if there are opportunities there then I will take them.”

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DeGale was trash talking throughout the weigh-in, telling his rival “you know what’s going to happen, you cannot box, you’re s***”.

But the Eubank insists the 33-year-old Olympic gold medallist would be insane not to respect him.

He said: “I believe my style is very dangerous for a man like James Degale, he does not enjoy pressure and I am one of the most high-pressure fighters in the game.

“His last few performances haven't been good but I think James is the sort of fighter who raises his game against the level of opponent.

“If he doesn't respect his opponent then he doesn't perform.

“I know he respects me, if he doesn't then he is a mad man.”