Blackwell reveals he’s impressed Eubank Jr. has stepped up to fight him on March 26

LONDON (16 FEBRUARY) British middleweight champion Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell is impressed Chris Eubank Jr., his next challenger, has decided to step up and fight him on March 26 at The SSE Arena, Wembley, and has urged him to play his part in one of the most thrilling and explosive encounters of 2016.

A match-up between Blackwell and Eubank Jr. has been mooted for a while, and has twice previously been ordered by the British Boxing Board of Control, but both times Blackwell was left disappointed when Eubank Jr. decided to look elsewhere. Now, though, with the fight finally on – and tickets set to go on sale this Thursday (February 18) at 10 am – Blackwell is delighted to have cornered a man he feels has been desperate to avoid him.

“I know this isn’t a fight Chris has wanted and I know he wouldn’t be fighting me if I wasn’t British champion and he wasn’t the number one contender,” said Blackwell.

“But we (Hennessy Sports) won the purse bids, we’ve got him, and, having twice swerved me in the past, I’m pleased Chris has now decided to do the honourable thing and try to set the record straight. I think it must have been weighing quite heavily on his mind – ducking me before – and he obviously feels he needs to do right thing this time around, if only to save a bit of face and restore his reputation.

“Now it’s finally on, I look forward to going to war with him. Our styles should make for a classic. I refuse to take a step back – I feel I’m fitter and stronger than any middleweight in the country – and Eubank Jr. fancies himself as a bit of a brawler, too. He likes to fight up close and he tries to look for the knockout. But he knows, having sparred me in the past, I’m not going anywhere on March 26. I just hope this time he can keep up with me for a few more rounds.”

*** Tickets for the hotly-anticipated British middleweight title blockbuster between Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell and Chris Eubank Jr. go on sale this coming Thursday (February 18) at 10 am.

Tickets are priced at £35, £50, £75, £175, £200 and £250 for ringside and can be purchased online at ssearena.co.uk and axs.com or by phoning the SSE Arena, Wembley Box Office on 0844 815 0815 ***