Nick Blackwell calls for Chris Eubank Jr fight, but admits bout is unlikely
Wednesday 16 December 2015 13:26, UK
British middleweight champion Nick 'Bang Bang' Blackwell says he is not holding his breath over another potential fight with Chris Eubank Jr.
The 25-year-old has seen two previous bouts ordered by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) overlooked by Eubank Jr in the last year.
Eubank Jr, who beat Gary O'Sullivan at the O2 Arena last weekend, is the mandatory challenger for the British middleweight title and the fight will go to purse bids later on Wednesday.
But Blackwell said: "I'm telling myself the fight will happen and that he won't pull out again, but he's withdrawn from an eliminator and a final eliminator in the past.
"He has also turned down a good private offer to fight me. I don't know why he would suddenly get brave now when he can just continue ducking me and cherry-pick a world title fight next year.
"You never know, he might man-up and do the right thing, but I think he'll be hoping for a Billy Joe Saunders rematch. He'll want Billy Joe to beat Andy Lee this Saturday night and then fight him for the WBO title.
"He'll think Billy Joe is an easier opponent than me and won't want to get beaten up by me in a British title fight."
Blackwell watched Eubank Jr's seventh round stoppage of O'Sullivan last Saturday, aware that he could fight him next, and saw a lot of the same flaws that Sky Sports' Johnny Nelson also spotted.
Blackwell said: "It went the way I thought it would go, not the way I wanted it to go. I wanted Spike to win, but didn't think he would.
"Eubank Jr didn't box very well to begin with. He got dragged into a fight, he got caught and wobbled, but after that he settled down, improved and ending up looking quite good.
"I just want to get in there and beat Eubank Jr up. He thinks he's invincible at the minute and it's quite amusing to me, having been in the ring with him before in sparring. I know he's not invincible.
"And so does Billy Joe Saunders. I just want the chance to prove it and shock a few people."
