Ambrose Mendy says “nothing of real note” happened during the infamous 2012 sparring session between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr ahead of their showdown at The O2 this Saturday.
The Brighton boxer stoked the fire between the pair after suggesting in a tweet he “schooled the European champ” – a claim the two-time IBF world champion denies.
Mendy, a former advisor for DeGale, says Eubank Jr made a mountain out of a molehill following the heated sparring session – but ultimately got what he wanted from it.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he said: “I was in the gym that day when they sparred. Nothing of real note went on.
“Junior came flying out of the corner and threw a million punches and unnerved James and he got into a mood.
“Junior tweeted what he tweeted for a reason. Now seven years on he’s got the chance to fight James.”
FIGHT NIGHT ON talkSPORT
James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr is live on talkSPORT, February 23 from the O2 Arena, featuring Joe Joyce and Lee Selby on an impressive undercard. Don’t miss it!
He continued: “I remember watching Nigel Benn spar and get knocked out.
“That didn’t affect him not going to the gym in the days after though and just switching off completely. That’s what James did.
“In James’ defence he’s grown up a lot since then and he’s mixed it with the best in the world and got the titles to show for it.”
Mendy, who believes the super-middleweight contest will be an “outstanding fight”, gave an interesting comparison of the pair ahead of the crunch clash.
“James is the equivalent of somebody who went to Cambridge and got a first. He is a master of his trade,” Mendy explained.
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“Then you’ve got Junior who opted out at six form and went to college.
“You put those two in the workplace together and it doesn’t necessarily mean the academic will reign victorious.
“You have the master in DeGale, but with Junior you have someone with real fury, tenacity and power.
“There are so many factors to consider in this fight, it’s going to be close.
“That said if James fights like he was born to do, then he’s got a real big chance of winning this.”
