Eubank Jr vs O'Sullivan: Preview of the WBA middleweight eliminator
Saturday 12 December 2015 22:45, UK
Your one-stop preview of Saturday's WBA middleweight eliminator between Chris Eubank Jr and Gary O'Sullivan at The O2.
Background
Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan has been hounding Chris Eubank Jr on social media for several years and has finally got his wish - a showdown under the bright lights in front of a packed house.
As well as the old cliche that these two 'just plainly don't like each other', the added incentive is the prospect of becoming mandatory challenger to WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs, who stopped Peter Quillin last weekend in spectacular fashion.
With Eubank Jr a clear victor in the verbal battles on The Gloves Are Off and at the final press conference, O'Sullivan stole the show at the weigh-in - and entertainment in the ring is all but assured. All that before even mentioning the presence of one-man entertainment machine Chris 'English' Eubank.
What the fighters say
What the camps say
What other fighters say
I like O'Sullivan but he lost to Saunders a bit more emphatically and this is a step up again for him. You have to side with Eubank Jr and it'll be on points.
It's a really interesting one because Eubank Jr clearly has skills, speed and power. It's hard to call but from what I've seen, I think Eubank Jr is the superior boxer and will win on points.
Eubank Jr a very good fighter - strong with a great chin like his father. It'll be an entertaining fight to watch. I'll go with Eubank Jr on points because he gave Saunders a harder time than Spike did.
I sparred Eubank Jr and I played with him and then he went and told everyone he schooled me! It was the most stupid thing I had heard in my life. I think you have to make him favourite for this one though, so I'll go with Eubank Jr on points.
What the experts say
I think it's going to be a close, hard points win for Eubank Jr. Without a doubt, we'll see a bit of drama and maybe even both men hurt along the way.
O'Sullivan is powerful and anything could happen but I just think that the better all-round skill set belongs to Eubank Jr and will see him through. Spike is tough and will be dishing out his own stuff so it will go the distance but Eubank Jr will take it on points.
I can't look beyond Eubank winning this. It could well go all the way with him winning quite comfortably on points but I think Eubank Jr might manage to get the stoppage in those late rounds.
I do think Sullivan will go the 12 rounds but Eubank Jr will win by a handful of rounds. It will be entertaining though... in the ring at least!
The weigh-in
Eubank Jr: 11st 6lb (initially 11st 6lb ¼oz)
O'Sullivan: 11st 5lb 8oz
