Chris Eubank Jr vows to dethrone George Groves inside ‘six months’ before taking on James DeGale

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John Dillon16 July 2017

Chris Eubank Jr insisted he will dethrone rival world super-middleweight champion George Groves “within the next six months.”

The pair are on course to meet in the new World Boxing Super Series knockout tournament after Eubank confirmed his entry with a wide and impressive points victory against tough veteran Arthur Abraham at Wembley on Saturday.

Fellow British fighter Callum Smith is also included in the eight-man competition, while IBO champion Eubank, 27, and WBA belt holder Groves are expected to contest a domestic mega-fight semi-final - with their belts also on the line - which is pencilled in for next January.

Eubank said after defeating Abraham in the first defence of his IBO title: “George might play it down and say that he’s not worried. Or that Callum Smith is a better fighter than me.

“But deep down he knows that his title is coming to me in the next six months.

“He is the guy I am looking at now. He is the guy to beat.”

‘I got to show my boxing skills and get the experience in against Abraham Now I am going into the WBSS Super Eight tournament to take Groves’ belt.

“He knows what is going to happen when we get into the ring. It will be a spectacular fight. The whole of Britain wants to see it and after I beat him, I am going for James DeGale.”

Londoner Groves replied: “There is the potential that I could meet Eubank, but he is in a hard fight against the Turkish lad.

“I am the only current recognised world champion in there. Chris is now in the tournament but I am bringing the best prize to the table.”

Venues and dates for the “quarter-final” of the knockout tournament will be officially announced by the Sauerland promotional team next week.

Eubank , 27, will first fight little-known but undefeated 25-year-old Avni Yildirim of Turkey while Hammersmith’s Groves will meet fellow Briton Jamie Cox, who is also undefeated but will be taking a major step up in class.

Smith, the British super-middle champion from Liverpool, is to fight Erik Skoglund of Sweden.

London’s IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale is not taking part in the tournament because he is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

The seeded fighters including Groves and Eubank selected their opponents at a draw in Monaco.

Eubank added after his win at Wembley: “We picked Yildirim for the quarter-final because he has a similar style to Abraham. It’s perfect for me and it will make for an entertaining fight.

“I am going to be very busy for the next eight-10 months and that is perfect at this stage of my career.”

The defeat of former world middleweight and super-middleweight Abraham is the most significant win of Brighton-based Eubank’s career despite his opponent’s veteran status.

Eubank added: “I made a statement. I didn’t stop him but I hurt him badly on more than occasion.

“It’s clear now why he has never been stopped and I respect him.

“But I made an elite level fighter look amateur.

“Only elite fighters have beaten Abraham – and I beat him convincingly.”

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