BRITISH super-middleweight rivals James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr both came in under the 168-pound limit at the official weigh-in ahead of their hotly anticipated pay-per-view 12-rounder at the O2 Arena in Greenwich tomorrow night (Saturday February 23).
Former two-time IBF champion DeGale scaled 166lbs. Only once before in the southpaw’s 28-bout professional career has he ever weighed less than this. That was way back in July 2009 against Ciaran Healy – his third pro outing – when he came in at 165lbs.
Eubank, meanwhile, tipped the scales at 167 1/2lbs. The only other time he has ever weighed more than this was ahead of his most recent outing in September against JJ McDonagh. On that occasion he was 168lbs.
There may be no major title on the line between DeGale and Eubank this weekend, but the stakes are arguably as high as they can get. For the loser, it will be difficult to see where they could go next – DeGale has even labelled this as “the retirement fight”. For the winner, a lofty world ranking awaits, as well as the bragging rights in what has developed into a bitter personal feud between the pair over the years.
