Former WBO middleweight and super middleweight Chris Eubank has predicted that Olympic boxer James DeGale will fail as a professional boxer. Eubank said that DeGale would struggle to fend off the outside pressures that continue to accompany his career.
Speaking during Steve Bunce's Boxing Hour on Setanta Sports News Eubank said:
"Stay away from sin, stay away from guests. You have to fight, you have to spar. Gifts kill your hunger. Fame kills your hunger. Girls will destroy you.
“Fighters who have their own way all the time, they become white elephants. The best example of this is Audley Harrison.
"I hear James DeGale is getting a £1 million. I guarantee you he will fail. It robs your hunger. I fought Michael Watson. I wanted respect. I got up to carry on because I didn't have respect."
Eubank also had his say on the 'will they, won't they' bout between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao
"A fight it will be, it will not be a boxing match,” he added. “Suddenly I look to the after effects because he's been using this style all his career.
"It will be exciting for the fans. I hope he's taking the skills on board from Floyd Mayweather Sr. I'm not saying he can't win the fight just bringing the fight to him."
BROOK BACKS JENNINGS TO BEAT COTTO
Welterweight hot-shot Kell Brook is backing Michael Jennings to beat Miguel Cotto on February 21 - so he set up a huge all-British showdown with his rival.
Jennings will face Cotto in Madison Square Garden in New York on February 21 for the vacant WBO World title, and Brook will be keeping a close eye on the outcome.
The 22-year-old, one of boxing's brightest prospects, makes the second defence of his British welterweight title at York Hall tomorrow night (Friday 30 January) against Stuart Elwell live on Sky Sports, following his first round blow out of Kevin McIntyre last year.
And the confident youngster is already dreaming of world glory.
"Jennings is the fight that I want and a lot of the public want," said unbeaten Brook, who has stormed to a 18 wins with 11 knockouts.
"If Miguel Cotto has underestimated Jennings then he's going to be in trouble.
"Jennings is a very talented boxer and he might end up snatching the title off Cotto.
"If that happens I'll be knocking on Frank Warren's door asking him to make me against Jennings - and I think I could win that fight. It's the one everyone wants to see."
Meanwhile Brook has vowed not to take Elwell lightly in front of the Sky Sports cameras - and given the Midlander's former career, hasn't cut corners in training.
"He's a former Royal Marine so he's going to be tough and hang on in there, but I'm keeping my belt," said the Brendan Ingle trained fighter
"They're calling me Special K at the moment and people will be seeing plenty of sparks at York Hall on January 30."
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RUNNING ORDER
FRANK WARREN PROUDLY PRESENTS
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
FRIDAY 30 JANUARY
YORK HALL, BETHNAL GREEN, LONDON
Doors Open: 17.00 HRS
Fight # 1 - 19.30 HRS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
LIAM WALSH (Cromer, England) vs. SHAUN WALTON (Telford, England)
Fight # 2
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Middleweight Contest
DENTON VASSELL (Manchester, England) vs. MATT SCRIVEN (Nottingham, England)
Fight # 3
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
VINNY MITCHELL (Dagenham, England) vs. ROBIN DEAKIN (Crawley, England)
Fight # 4
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Heavyweight Contest
DEREK CHISORA (Finchley, London) vs. DANIEL PERET (Trondheim, Norway)
Fight # 5
THE VACANT SOUTHERN AREA SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 X 3 Minute Rounds at 12st (168lb)
RICHARD HORTON (Ongar, England) vs. TONY SALEM (Finchley, London)
Fight # 6
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Bantamweight Contest
RYAN WALSH (Cromer, England) vs. SID RAZAK (Birmingham, England)
*SKY SPORTS LIVE BROADCAST COMMENCES AT 22.00 HRS*
Fight # 7 - 22.05 HRS - LIVE
THE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF GREAT BRITAIN
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 10st 7lb (147lb)
KELL BROOK (Sheffield, England) vs. STUART ELWELL (Walsall, England)
