As his February 17 fight night with George Groves looms, Chris Eubank Jnr has launched another grenade in the fiery war of words between the English pair in the lead up to their much-anticipated world championship showdown.

While Groves has frequently dismissed Eubank Jr's chances, claiming the IBO super middleweight champion does not have the power to trouble him, Junior has focused on Groves' less than stellar record in big fights so far his career.

Groves (27-0-3) the WBA belt holder suffered three world title defeats in as many years from 2013 to 2015, twice at the hands of the now retired Carl Froch and another agonising split decision loss to Badou Jack in Las Vegas.

The unification bout in the Manchester Arena, also a semi-final contest in the World Boxing Super Series knockout tournament is shaping up to the be one of the biggest fights between British boxers in recent times and the bookies are making the more inexperienced Eubank the slight favourite for the bout. 

Eubank (26-0-1), however, is uninterested in what the bookies think and feels assured of victory after sensing weakness during their fight launch press conference back in November.

“I am not interested at all in the fact that I have been made favourite. It cannot and will not affect my thinking or preparation at all. It is irrelevant," the 28-year-old told the Evening Standard.

“But I do know that George is seeking comfort when he talks about my stature and pedigree and how it doesn’t match what he has done. It is the same when he makes so much of how I have stepped up from middleweight and that he is more natural in this division.

“What he has done is show that he knows how to lose big fights - twice against Carl Froch and also when he lost a world title challenge against Badou Jack in Las Vegas. This is not a fight that requires bad words or disrespect between us. We respect each other. I know he will be the best and most experienced fighter I have faced and that he will give me my toughest test.

“But I saw in his eyes at our press conference to launch the fight last November that he is having to convince himself of something, that he needs to give a certain view of my career and what I have done to reassure himself.

“Okay, we will both give honest opinions if asked. That is not trash talk. That is honesty. My belief is that I simply cannot and will not be beaten.

Calm and confident words from Eubank Jr.

But will two world titles on the line and a place in the WBSS final at stake we can be sure to expect fireworks next weekend.