Chris Eubank Jr admitted he is feeling 'the pressure' for the first time in his career after he filmed a fiery edition of The Gloves Are Off with Liam Smith.
The 33-year-old was floored for the first time in his professional career by Smith in a fourth-round stoppage loss in January, but Eubank is targeting revenge in their rematch in Manchester on June 17, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The domestic rivals resumed their war of words while filming their rematch edition of The Gloves Are Off, with Eubank all-too aware of the implications of another defeat.
"It's always interesting sitting across the table from a man you're going to fight in a few months, looking into his eyes, especially when that man has a win over you which he does," Eubank Jr told Sky Sports News.
"This is a rematch, a very serious fight for me now, I cannot afford any mistakes, so I'm ready for the challenge.
Trending
- The Masters: Play to start at 3.30pm after storm delays LIVE!
- The Masters: New R1 groupings and tee times
- Masters confirm new start time after round-one weather delay
- Papers: Potter in line to replace Ten Hag as Man Utd manager
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Arsenal lead chase for Wolves' Gomes
- Amorim denies Liverpool agreement
- Why Trossard might be Arsenal's real key player
- How alleged racist abuse in West Ham Legends game 'still affects' Ferdinand
- Littler chases Premier League hat-trick in Birmingham
- England and Germany level in race for extra CL spot!
- Watch
- Latest News
"I may have, not underestimated him, but there wasn't as much pressure on me in the last fight. Now on the flip side all the pressure is on me, I have to go out there and perform, my career is on the line.
"I've never been in this situation before where I'm fighting a man who has another win over me, so I'm interested to see how that might affect my preparation, my mindset, my performance on the night."
Latest Boxing Stories
- Janibek Alimkhanuly-Chris Eubank Jr title clash given 'green light' by Top Rank president Todd DuBoef
- Bob Arum: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's undisputed showdown to be announced on Thursday
- Anthony Joshua teases 'mega-card' of Deontay Wilder bout with Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
- Isaac Chamberlain: How Brixton cruiserweight left behind life of crime to become a British title challenger
- Gloves Are Off: Joshua Buatsi denies that he thinks Dan Azeez is a 'soft touch'
- Amanda Serrano says she needs to 'prove women can fight 12 rounds' ahead of historic title defence
Eubank Jr, who received praise for his determination to try and continue after being knocked down in the first fight, downplayed suggestions he would retire should he lose for a second time.
"I get asked this question every time I fight," he said. "It seems like once you hit 30-years-old it's like, 'if you lose are you going to retire?'.
"No, I don't have that mentality, I don't bring that into the universe, I don't talk about retirement.
"I'm going to do everything I can to win, if by some miracle he's able to pull off another win I won't say 'I'm going to retire'.
"As a fighter you fight, as long as my body can keep going through these training camps I'm going to do that."
Eubank concedes that Smith enters the fight with a mental edge after emerging victorious in their first contest, but insists the outcome has driven him to work harder than ever.
"A lot of people who don't know boxing or don't know how to fight think it's just about being tough and strong and quick," said Eubank.
"In my opinion boxing is probably 70 per cent mental, on the mental side of things he obviously has an advantage, he has supreme confidence, he has a win over me and is bringing that energy into the fight.
"I've been blessed with the ability to thrive under pressure and this is probably the most amount of pressure I've ever had in a fight. I know it's going to make me train harder, I know it's going to make me fight harder.
"This is the first time I've ever had a fight stopped, I got back up twice and I'm protesting with the referee, he called the fight off and now we're in a situation where I have to right that wrong and avenge the loss before I move forward.
"We're two fierce competitors and I think this fight is going to be an all-out war."
