Groves vs Eubank Jr: George Groves not bothered by mind games with 'irrelevant' Chris Eubank Jr

By Tim Hobbs

George Groves feels there is no need for mind games with Chris Eubank Jr but has already got him "rattled".

The British super-middleweight stars will meet in the World Boxing Super Series semi-final in Manchester on February 17.

Groves is also defending his WBA 'super' world title but with Eubank Jr already questioning his mental strength following his Wembley Stadium loss to Carl Froch at the initial press conference, 'The Saint' made it clear he does not have to engage in a psychological war.

Image: The Eubanks are both 'irrelevant' in Groves' eyes, ahead of semi-final

"I thought Junior would be much more reserved, play it cool a bit more, keep his cards closer to his chest, but he was already really rattled," Groves exclusively told Sky Sports.

Scarred by Froch KO

Chris Eubank Jr believes Geoge Groves is psychologically vulnerable following their Wembley Stadium showdown in 2014.

"Maybe for some it wasn't that evident, but there were a few things he bit at and maybe a few things I was saying, he didn't want to hear because there might be some truth in what I said.

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"But I am not trying to get under Junior's skin. If that happens, it happens, but I am not trying to and I don't envisage I will, like I knew I would with Froch.

Sparring is irrelevant, the things he says are irrelevant... his dad is irrelevant.
George Groves

"He [Froch] got professional help for the second one and did a fantastic job. But this time around, I didn't think Junior would care."

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Groves, who beat compatriot Jamie Cox in the quarter-finals, also labelled Chris Eubank Sr's role in his son's preparations as "totally irrelevant".

Eubank Sr insists his son does not need a trainer due to the "internal navigation system" he has inherited and with Eubank Jr also using a well-known spar in 2011 to try and wind him up, Groves refused to bite.

After Carl Froch announced his retirement, we looked back at the best bits from the war of words between Froch and George Groves

"I don't care, he [Eubank Jr] can say anything he wants, he can talk about sparring, he can release footage of it, it doesn't matter," said Groves.

"He could've bashed me from pillar-to-post every time we stepped in the ring, but it doesn't matter. He is not good enough, he's not going to beat me. Sparring is irrelevant, the things he says are irrelevant... his dad is irrelevant.

Image: Chris Eubank Sr believes his son has an 'internal navigation system' to rely on

"The dad wants to nudge him along, but he hasn't fought for an awful long time and the dad had hand-picked opposition for the vast majority of his career, which we all knew.

"He can dine out on it, but don't use it as an excuse or a defence when your son is stepping up for the first time.

"The only things I will need to talk about on Junior is, it will be fun for me to see him conform, to change in the build-up."

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