Chris Eubank Jr was the bookmakers’ favourite ahead of his World Boxing Super Series semi-final against George Groves on Saturday evening.
The 28-year-old, who came into the fight off the back of eight consecutive victories, talked the talk in the weeks leading up to the bout but was unable to walk the walk.
In fact, it’s fair to say that Eubank Jr was outclassed in almost every one of the 12 rounds. The judges scored the fight 117-112 116-112 115-113 in Groves’ favour by the margins could have been greater. There was a clear gulf in class between the two fighters on the night.
Since his victory, Groves has labelled Eubank Jr’s comments in the build-up to the fight as “very dismissive and stupid”.
Eubank Jr’s trash-talking arguably crossed the line at times and he appeared absolutely convinced that he would beat Groves and advance to the World Boxing Super Series final.
What Eubank said to Lingard before Groves fight
Behind-the-scenes footage of the build-up to the fight has now been posted on YouTube by World Boxing Super Series - and there’s a fascinating scene where Eubank Jr is teaching several Manchester United players how to punch properly.
After putting Jesse Lingard, Chris Smalling, Angel Gomes and Marcus Rashford through their pace, Eubank Jr is wished good luck by Lingard.
The Hove-born boxer immediately replied: “It’s Groves who needs good luck but I appreciate it anyway.”
This sums up how confident - or arrogant, depending on your point of view - Eubank Jr was prior to the fight.
His comment looks pretty awkward now.
Watch the moment by skipping to 6.55 in this video…
Groves wonders how Eubank Jr will cope with defeat
“He’s going to have a tough phase now, because he dreamt about all these things he was going to have,” Groves is quoted as saying by The Sun. “Dreaming about winning a big fight before you’ve won it, I’m also guilty of.
“But there was a documentary and he was looking around houses he can’t afford. He had to win the tournament to afford them.
“He spent the whole week trying to develop his new clothing range.
“People buy your T-shirt because you’re winning, they don’t care if it’s a Fruit of the Loom T-shirt or if it has come straight out of the Burberry warehouse.
“They just want your logo on their shirt.
“He’s had so many people jump on his bandwagon of late. But people will quickly forget about you, let’s see if he can cope with that.”
Ouch.