Both Billy Joe Saunders and promoter Eddie Hearn are predicting a surprise upset in George Groves’ hugely anticipated bout with Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday night.

The WBA super-middleweight title holder meets IBO champ Eubank in the World Boxing Super Series semi-final in Manchester this Saturday, with a shot at the Muhammed Ali Trophy awaiting the victor.

And, whilst the bookies make Eubank a clear favourite, Saunders and Hearn have both backed Groves.

In a conversation aired on YouTube via iFL TV, Saunders, the only man to stop Eubank, told Hearn: “Groves can’t let the early rounds slip, he has to use his feet, if he don’t, Eubank could outwork him, but I can only see Groves catching him.”

Both believe Groves to be the more tactically astute boxer.

Hearn said: “I’ve gone a full 360 on it, I think George Groves is the favourite and I think he can stop him.

"Eubank may be the real deal, which we will find out, but what worries me is I look at Eubank hitting the pads with his mate and I sort of think you’re not really thinking about the fight or what you’re doing and the dad says, when you have the natural talent of Junior, you don’t need a trainer.

"And I just think Groves is very smart in the ring, Shane McGuigan (his trainer) is very smart in the ring, and I think they’ll have their tactics spot on. I know it can go out the window, but I just think they will have an outstanding mindset in this fight. Junior is a handful but …”

Watch BJS and Hearn talk about the fight in the video below. {Scroll to 12:10 for it to begin}

Saunders concurred: “When you use a bit of boxing brain with him, he gets lost."

The pair’s prediction is not shared by most fight fans.

“All the early money so far has been on Eubank Jr with over 90 per cent of stakes being placed on him to win at 4/6,” Betfair spokesperson Katie Baylis told the Express.

“The favoured method of victory at present is Eubank Jr to win by KO/TKO at 7/4.

"We anticipate him not having it all his own way, however, with Groves’ size advantage potentially coming into play.”