EUBANK JR VS. BENN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

Chris Eubank Jr:

“I’m calm. I’m very at peace with where I am in my life and where I am in this fight. I really do believe that everything I envisioned, everything that I have trained for will come to fruition. I’m grateful to be here. I’m happy. I don’t have any chips on my shoulder, as Conor Benn always points out. I don’t have any frustrations. I don’t have any ill will towards people. I just want to go out there and have fun.

“Domination in every department you can imagine. Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defence, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident. Which is why I’m so relaxed. Which is why I’m so happy.

“I guess you could say there’s been more fire in my soul, in my spirit, in my mindset. This is the biggest fight of my career. This is the most important fight to date, which is very rare for a 35-year-old fighter. Usually at 35 fighter’s careers are behind them. I’m still going up and up.”

Conor Benn:

“I’m just lapping it up. I’m enjoying it man. I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to be back on these shores. I don’t think anything of it. I don’t think nothing of it at all. He’s an opponent and that’s it.

“You wan’t to know what pressure is? A 19-year-old kid moving from Australia to the UK, walking out to a packed O2 arena with no amateur background. That’s pressure.

“Ultimately every fighter dreams of getting to this stage. I’ve worked extremely hard. This isn’t six months work. This isn’t six weeks work. This is ten years. I’ve done it too many times now for it to be an accident or a chance. This is who I am, I live for this. I don’t feel no pressure at all. I’m going to go in there and do what I do.

“I wish I was fighting tonight. But it’s just one of those things where this is all now just long. I just want to get in there. Ultimately he’s going to get it.

“Ten years ago when I first turned pro, did I ever think that I’d end up here? Nah. But I am here, I’m built for it and I feel ready for it. I’m loving the challenge of fighting at 160. I’m loving the competition. You thrive off challenges as a fighter. People are going to me, ‘are you not worried, how are you going to deal with it?’ This is what I do. I prepare for this. I do everything I possibly can in the gym, in training, that feels me with confidence.

“Ultimately it’s another fight. That’s how I’m looking at it. He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him.”

Liam Smith:

“Last time I was in the ring I had a horrendous performance. It’s not secret, everybody saw it. I know the issues behind it. On Saturday I get to right that wrong. I was unfortunate I got ill, I didn’t get injured for the September card. I got ill. On Saturday I get to right that wrong, and prove the people who wrote me off after that Chris Eubank Jr second fight wrong. How can I be finished with no miles on the clock? After the first fight I’m the best Middleweight in the world. The second fight I’m finished and need to retire. It doesn’t make sense. I know the issues behind it and I can only make it right the next time I get in the ring.

“Yeah, they’re hungry and they’re two game kids. Sometimes a little bit clueless in how game they are. You can look at it like, they’re trying to get me at the right time. A fit Liam Smith is Aaron McKenna’s worse nightmare. He is absolutely made for a fit Liam Smith. If he thinks he’s going to stand and fight with me… He is my ideal opponent. Take away an inch or two in the height, his style is my perfect opponent to fight against. You’re going to see the old Liam Smith back. I’ll break Aaron McKenna down and I’ll stop him.”

Cheavon Clarke:

“I feel very good. Calm and relaxed. I know what I’ve got to do. It’s my belt and I’m going to protect it. Bring it home. I know Viddal. I’ve been around him and we say hello. We’re not like best friends but we’ve shared rounds before. He’s helped me out and I’ve helped him out. It’s nothing personal as in bad blood. It’s just the business that we’re in. A certain promoter tried to push me to the side before and get his two fighters to fight. I just had to pull up and say… You know what I mean? I showed them what time it was.

“People are out here acting like I can’t box. When I came out and I became mandatory for the belt when I fought David Jamieson and became mandatory for the belt. I turned up and I boxed ever so well. Sunny was there, he’ll tell you. You guys are acting like Chev can’t box.

“I’m looking forward to a stadium fight, especially the fact it’s Tottenham’s. Obviously I’m an Arsenal man. Arsenal have won the league there. It’s my time to just bring my title back home where it belongs. Tottenham ain’t ever won nothing; let’s have it right.”

Viddal Riley:

“Fighting at home, it does something to you. You can either let it crumble you or you can help it make you. I’m not really thinking about the arena right now, or the fact it’s home. Chev is enough to think about. I will watch it at home after and be like, ‘I did that’ But at this moment in time, I’m just ready to put hands on him.

“I believe in energy, a higher energy. You can have your way, you can miss your wave. I think right now, this it the right time. This British Title fight could be anywhere. It could be against someone that supports any team. But it’s against an Arsenal fan. I’m Tottenham. I’m from the area and I get the opportunity to win my first major professional title there. I just need to fulfil my destiny.

“I think the only way a fighter reaches their full potential is by throwing themselves in those tests. You can get stale. It’s a real thing. You’re never going to be ready. The way you get ready is by having these opponents. They make you ready. Chev is going to be someone who brings the best out of me. That’s exactly what I need at this time. I’m 27-years-old. Not the oldest, no the youngest. Right age to be British Champion. I’m going to show Chev’s age on the day.”

Eubank Jr vs. Benn tops a huge night of boxing in London, Ilford’s former World Title challenger Anthony Yarde (26-3, 24 KOs) fights Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur (24-2, 16 KOs) for the third time – with the WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title on the line, Liverpool’s former WBO Super-Welterweight World Champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) takes on Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KO) for the WBA International Middleweight Title, Gravesend’s Cheavon Clarke defends his British Cruiserweight Title against Tottenham’s Viddal Riley and Bournemouth’s former WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-2, 13 KOs) meets the USA’s Brandon Glanton (20-2, 17 KOs) over 12 rounds.