James DeGale will retire even if he BEATS Chris Eubank Jr - Nate Vasquez EXCLUSIVE
JAMES DEGALE will retire after his fight against Chris Eubank Jr tonight, regardless of the result.
That is the belief of Eubank Jr’s trainer Nate Vasquez.
DeGale takes on Eubank Jr tonight at The O2 Arena in a grudge match for the vacant IBO super middleweight world title.
JAMES DEGALE VS CHRIS EUBANK LIVE: FOLLOW THE FIGHT FROM THE O2 ARENA
The Olympic gold medallist has dubbed the bout as ‘The Retirement Fight’, such will the severeness of a loss be to either man’s career, in his opinion.
DeGale lost his IBF strap to unfancied challenger Caleb Truax in December 2017 while Eubank Jr suffered a career-denting loss to George Groves last February, once again failing to mix it at the elite level.
READ MORE: WHY DO JAMES DEGALE AND CHRIS EUBANK HATE EACH OTHER?
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Even if he did win, I think he would still retire
Eubank Jr unarguably has the inferior resume but is the bookies’ slim favourite, with most people believing his 33-year-old opponent is over the hill.
Despite Chunky’s warnings that he has not been in better shape for a long while, the view that he’s declining is also held by Vasquez.
Speaking about whether motivation will see DeGale up his game, Vasquez told Express Sport: “You don't know at the end [of his career], because he can get up for that last fight.
“He's saying it's a retirement thing, so I'm thinking he wants to retire.
“Even if he did win, I think he would still retire because his body has been through so much.”
DeGale has recently suffered with shoulder injuries as well as one to the eye, but has cut a rejuvenated figure in the build-up, constantly shadow boxing with a grin on his face.
But Vasquez does not buy the revitalised persona, adding: “Once you have injuries and surgeries, your body's never the same.
“You can't tell me you're 100 per cent now, because your body's never the same afterwards.
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“[Do you not believe him when he says it's the best he's felt in a long while?] No, no.
“That's like someone breaking a leg and then going for a run a month later and telling everyone it's the best they've felt.
“He's had injuries that have plagued him throughout his career. Boxing takes a toll on your body, he had a lot of amateur fights - that takes a toll on your body.
“And then a lot of pro fights, and the last few pro fights he's had have taken a major toll.”
