According to IBO super middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 KOs), he used to do a real number on WBA super world champion George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs) when the two of them would spar in the gym.
Eubank claims that he used to do some real damage, leading to some of the sparring sessions being cut short and others where Groves would walk away very frustrated.
They are now scheduled to settle their differences in the ring. Eubank will get the opportunity to back up his talk, when he faces Groves at the Manchester Arena on February 17th in a semi-final bout within the World Boxing Super Series Tournament.
The winner will move on to the WBSS finale, against the winning of the other semi-final bout between Callum Smith and Juergen Braehmer.
Eubank made the full jump to 168-pounds a few fights back.
He displayed impressive power last October, when he traveled to Stuttgart in Germany and crushed Avni Yildirim inside three rounds in the first round of the WBSS.
Eubank believes the same thing will happen next weekend.
“We have sparred multiple times over the years. I would hurt him and he would leave the ring dejected and emotional. I have the footage," Eubank told GQ.
But if there is footage, why won't Eubank release it?
“I’m not releasing the footage because I like the fact that people really believe he is going to be too much for me. I like being the underdog. Then, when I beat him, it makes the occasion all the more spectacular," Eubank explained.
Based on their sparring sessions, Eubank is very confident that Groves will never see the final bell when they finally settle their differences in a paid scenario where it counts.
"There is no way it can go the distance,” Eubank says, “I’m going to stop him."