Chris Eubank Jr. believes his super middleweight clash with James DeGale will be one of the biggest grudge matches in UK history.
The two fighters have been trading words for several years, and they will finally collide on February 23rd at the O2 Arena in London.
DeGale has won two fights in a row since suffering a shocking points loss to Caleb Truax in December of 2017.
Eubank (27-2-1, 21 KOs) got quick win in September, after suffering a twelve round unanimous decision to George Groves in February.
DeGale (25-2-1, 15 KOs) lost his undefeated record to Groves back in 2011, when they were both up and coming prospects.
Eubank ranks the upcoming clash right up there with another super middleweight of the past, Carl Froch vs. George Groves.
Froch won a controversial stoppage in the first bout, which led to a rematch that packed in 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
“I think it’s up there [with Froch-Groves I]. I think this is more of a grudge match than [Froch v Groves I]," Eubank Jr. told Express Sport.
“This has been brewing for years and years and years so it’s very exciting to get an opportunity now to put this kid in his place.”
“It’s elite level. We are at the top of our game, the top of the sport, the top of the division. This is a true grudge match, neither of us want to lose, neither of us want to give away an inch. When there’s a fight like with two fighters that don’t get on, who have a beef and history, it makes for a very exciting event.”
The 29-year-old Eubank was without a trainer for the fight with Groves, but now has trainer Nate Vasquez in the corner to help polish up his skills.