Unless you've been holidaying in remote Outer Mongolia these past few weeks, it won't have escaped your attention that ITV Box Office are broadcasting Chris Eubank Jnr v Arthur Abraham live from Wembley Arena tonight
Putting his IBO belt on the line against a notoriously grizzly former world champion, it's an exciting match up and the stiffest test of Eubank's career so far.
Fresh from a hard day's work in the gym, the 27-year-old stopped by for a chat with SPORTbible
Advert
You've got a tough fight coming up against Arthur Abraham. How are you planning to dismantle him?
The plan is to win by any means necessary. As far as my strategy goes you will have to wait and see on the night, but I am very confident in my ability.
Advert
I will out box, out fight, out speed, out work this guy. I believe I have all areas covered. It's just up to me on the night and how I feel.
One thing I will say is that I'm 100% planning for a stoppage. I don't want this guy to see the 12th round.
Image: PA
Advert
A lot of big names have tried and failed to stop Abraham. He's only suffered one defeat that way, to Robert Stieglitz in 2013, so what makes you think you'll fare better?
It is the combinations and volume of punches that I omit. He has never been in the ring with somebody like that, and he is going to have to take a lot of shots.
Advert
This is my time. The determination that I have right now, he won't have faced anything like this for a long while. I will do what I need to do.
With respect to those you've beaten, do you think you need a name like Abraham on your CV?
Yes I do. This is a highly ranked super middleweight, a former world champion, so this is a step up for me.
Advert
This is what I said I wanted after my last fight [beating Renold Quinlan in February], I want to meet the big names to win the biggest belts.
Arthur Abraham has been one of the top names in the super middleweight division for a long time. This is going to be a great fight for me, and for all the fans that watch it.
Image: PA
This is only your second fight at super-middle. How are you finding it at the higher weight?
It is definitely different. I've been sparring at super-middle for a few weeks now, and dealing with bigger guys is not the same, but I believe my speed, technique and determination is what's going to get me the wins at this level.
It doesn't always matter how big you are or even how you strong you are, inside the ring you must find a way to win.
Do you think you've inherited your dad's granite, rock solid chin?
For sure I have. I've never been knocked out. I've never touched the canvas.
I have taken some big shots, mainly in sparring as I rarely get caught in fights, and I'll be honest, I've been hit with some stiff ones - but I have always held those shots very well.
That must mean something and it gives me confidence going in to these fights. I believe Arthur Abraham will be relying on his power on July 15, and it won't be enough.
Image: PA
You've joined an exciting super-middleweight division, but in terms of entertainment and putting on a show, would you say you're already top of the tree?
Yes. In terms of excitement, I don't know who else brings more to the table than me; and that's not just in the middleweight classes either, it's any.
My style, what I do, and how I fight; there are very few fighters out there that can entertain like me.
In the well-respected Ring Magazine rankings you aren't in the Top 10 super-middleweights at the moment - Abraham is at number 7 - do you take much notice of that?
No I don't pay too much attention to the rankings. I've been told I'm Top 10 in a few of the organisations, but rankings don't mean anything to me.
It's all about belts and giving the public the fights that they want to see. This is one of those fights.
Image: PA
James de Gale, George Groves and Callum Smith all operate at world level in the super-middleweights. Are any of them on your radar once you have dispatched Abraham?
All of them are on my radar, but especially De Gale and Groves because they have world championship titles.
We actually tried to make both those fights before we agreed the deal with Abraham, but they were unwilling to make themselves available. I would happily take them on.
Who can we expect to see you fight first out of those guys?
Well I doubt it will be James deGale who has had shoulder surgery. I'm telling his people he needed to go and get some heart surgery while he was there.
Image: PA
Do you think he will run from you when he's fit then?
Of course he will.
George Groves has signed up to the new World Boxing Super Series. Could you not join in with that to make sure the scrap with him happens?
That's definitely an option. He has the WBA belt and I want that belt. I'm going to do whatever I need to do, to make sure I get it. After July 15 I will look at that as an option.
Image: PA
Your father's career was in many ways defined by domestic tear-ups at world level. Is history going to repeat itself?
History has already repeated itself and it will continue to do so.
There are great domestic fights to be had in the super-middleweight division, and at middleweight too. I'm interested in all of them.
As far as I am concerned I don't see any reason why these all-British fights can't be made in the next six to 12 months. I want them, and am ready for them.
What about a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders - is that still on the cards?
Of course I want to take him on again. Saunders is the man that took my unbeaten record and ever since that day he's been running. He hasn't wanted to get back in the ring with me.
Saunders has a world title but has only fought three times since, and has had just one fight in the last year and a half. It is embarrassing really.
Image: PA
After a slow start you got on top in the second half of the fight against Saunders. Are you confident you'd wipe the floor with him next time?
That result was purely down to inexperience. It was my first ever 12-round fight; before that evening I'd never gone beyond eight rounds. I simply paced myself too much, too early on, as I didn't know what the later rounds would bring.
Obviously now I am a seasoned 12 round fighter, so it will never ever happen again.
He [Saunders] knows it, and he knows how much I have improved since 2014. He also knows that he himself is the same fighter. I haven't seen the slightest bit of improvement in Saunders if I am honest.
This explains why he is stalling on a rematch through Frank Warren.
We're well into the build up for this Abraham fight now. Are you the type that likes to wind yourself up, or do you relax before a night like this?
I don't wind myself up that's for sure. That would be counter-productive. I always want to stay calm, cool and calculated. I don't let emotions get in the way of progress. To me, everything in boxing is business.
Image: PA
A lot of our sports stars have used their downtime before big matches and events this summer to chill out with a spot of Love Island on the TV. Are you hooked on it like many others?
I definitely have my ways to relax, but Love Island isn't one of them [laughs]!
I do a lot of things to relax; I play video games, have meals out with friends etc. It's good to take your mind away from the sport in between training sessions. It's important to do that, otherwise you can mentally burn out. You've got to know how to switch off.
In the back of my mind it's always there that I have a fight coming up but I don't let it take over.
Image: PA
Is Abraham's huge experience his greatest weapon against you?
Experience is the main thing this man is going to try and use against me, so I am mindful of it. It's not something I worry about, but I will be wary of it.
Abraham knows all the tricks. He's been there and done it. So there are things I might be able to get away with against a lot of fighters, that I won't be able to get away with against him, and I know that. This will affect the way I fight.
Last word on this Abraham fight then; what kind of statement are you hoping to make on July 15?
I am going in there to finish this guy. I am going in there to stop the so-called unstoppable force. This won't go the distance. I won't let up until I get the stoppage.
Words by Adrian Clarke.
Eubank v Abraham is part of a thrilling night of boxing, promoted by Poxon Sports in association with Team Sauerland.
Also on the ITV Box Office card is Lee Selby's third defence of his IBF World Featherweight title against Jonathan Barros, Kid Galahad v Jose Cayetano, Robbie Davies Jnr v Michal Syrowatka and Martin Ward v Anthony Cacace.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Chris Eubank Jr, Boxing