By Terence Dooley 

Dmitry "Night Wolf" Chudinov, 14-0-2 (9), and Chris Eubank Junior, 18-1 (13), came face-to-face in London earlier today to discuss Saturday night’s interim WBA World middleweight title encounter.  They clash at London’s O2 Arena, the show is promoted by Frank Warren and will be shown live on BoxNation.  Tyson Fury will hope to underline his position as Wladimir Klitschko’s mandatory contender when he meets Christian Hammer in the show’s bill topper.
 
Eubank’s interim title crack has come hot on the heels of his first professional defeat.  The 25-year-old dropped a split decision to Billy Joe Saunders for the British, Commonwealth and European middleweight titles in November, but has been given a chance to steal a march on his domestic rival.  The Brighton-based boxer started slowly in that one; he vowed to avoid making the same mistake on Saturday night.
 
“I hope Dmitry is ready, there will be no slack in the early rounds for this fight,” stated Eubank.  “I would like three or four fights this year.  I can't afford another loss.”
 
He added: “The support for me since Saunders has been great—I’ve just got to go in and do a job now.  I'm a marmite type fighter—you either love me or hate me.”
 
Eubank Senior, a former two-weight WBO world title-holder, picked up on this theme, saying: “I intend to steer my son to a point where marmite is nothing compared to Junior.”
 
The 28-year-old title-holder’s message was more straightforward.  “I'm here to win.  I will beat him, no two ways about it.  I cannot lose and will not lose to him.”
 
Eubank Senior prompted a lively tête-à-tête by turning the fight into an East Vs West showdown.  “There’s great support for Junior in the U.K.” he said.  “Chudinov is a very accomplished fighter, but this is U.K. versus Russia.”
 
“This is not Russia against England, it’s Chudinov against Eubank Junior,” stated Vlad Hrunov, Chudinov’s manager.
 
“I’m not being politically aggressive, but we are each representing our countries,” countered Eubank Senior only for Hrunov to take the sting out of the debate by telling Eubank Senior: “You are a star.”
 
Talk turned back to the fight itself, with both Ronnie Davis, Junior’s trainer, and his father declaring that he will win the fight.  “The toughest, the hardest, the cleverest man will win,” stated Eubank.  “He is a come forward fighter, the same as Junior, so this will be an explosive encounter.”

Junior has an extra incentive in the form of a possible summer rematch with Saunders should he win.  Billy Joe is waiting in line for a crack at WBO holder Andy Lee, who meets Peter Quillin in April, but the rematch may present the best option for Saunders, as he recently declined a shot at the vacant IBF title.
 
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