DeGale vs Eubank Jr RECAP: Eubank Jr claims unanimous decision over James DeGale

After two previously failed attempts to crack it at the elite level, Eubank Jr's hassle was too much for DeGale, as he outpointed the not-so-slick southpaw in a unanimous points victory.

The judges scored the bout 114-112, 115-112 and 117-109 in favour of the Brightonian, who entered the ring to loud boos.

Eubank Jr seemed as if he used that as fuel, however, as he put his foot on the pedal from the beginning.

Neither man was afraid of 36 gruelling minutes, as DeGale sustained a nick on his left eye which stemmed from a clash of heads in the first round.

The following three minutes may well have been the most theatrical in the fight as DeGale was rocked early on, scrambling his way around the ring as if the canvas had been littered with banana skins.

He was given a standing eight-count and then went on to evade Eubank Jr's best efforts in the middle rounds, although the crowd mistook his fleet-footedness for unsteadiness at times.

Chunky did hit the deck in the 10th but protested it was a shove. Those calls seemed somewhat just but there was no denying the 33-year-old was on the brink by his more youthful and busy opponent.

Despite a docked point in the 11th for a perceived body-slam on DeGale, Eubank Jr ended strongly and picked up a win not just memorable for his sake, but because it may spell the end of the road for former world champion DeGale.

Chris Eubank Jr bt James DeGale (UD)

Chris Eubank Jr wins via unanimous decision to establish himself on the elite level. The judges scored the bout 114-112, 115-112 and 117-109. 

R12: A gruelling end to a top-level fight. Eubank Jr is far more aggressive but his punches are wild and rarely land. You can't help but feel the sustained pressure on DeGale will be too much for Chunky to take it home. It seems like retirement may be on the cards.

R11: DOCKED! Eubank Jr is docked a point by the referee as he manhandles DeGale to the floor once more. The referee is on the Londoner's side this time and deems it necessary to deduct a point from Eubank Jr's total. In a close fight, that may prove crucial.

R10: KNOCKDOWN! Controversial scenes as DeGale is deemed to be knocked down in the 10th when it appeared he was more pushed to his feet. Eubank Jr did undoutbedly land some heavy shots though and DeGale protests at the end of the round.

R9: This onemight be going the distance. Like most rounds, Eubank Jr ends strongly but it was DeGale who had the lion's share. His fleet-footedness is so much that he continues to fool the crowd into thinking he's been stunned, however.

R8: TONGUE OUT! DeGale sticks out his tongue as the bell sounds, but he won't have found that round too funny come the end. Before copping some shots, the 33-year-old was evading the Brightonian's best efforts.

R7: Down but not for the count! DeGale swings wildly midway through the round but does not connect and hits the deck, such is his momentum. He evades most pinches during the round and notches another 10-pointer.

R6: DeGale showcases his boxing IQ with some slick dodges but Eubank Jr does land one punch which causes his opponent to use the ropes. DeGale coming back into it.

R5: Bizarre scenes as DeGale is effectively picked up by under his leg early into the round. But that somewhat reflects the fight so far: messy.

R4: HEATED! DeGale weaves his way out of trouble at the end of the round but from afar the crowd believe he is in trouble. This may work against the Harlesden fighter on the socrecards. DeGale came back into it that round.

R3: The Arena turns up a notch once more as Eubank Jr goes after DeGale, whose quick sprints are deceiving some for wobbly legs. Eubank Jr is winning these opening exchanges.

R2: ROCKED! DeGale looks destined for the canvas as Eubank Jr mauls the former IBF world champion. DeGale is given a standing eight count as he scurries around the ring, chased fiercely by his opponent.

R1: BLOOD! DeGale has sustained a little nick to his left eye after what was only a tentative first round. Eubank Jr looked the aggressor and probably took the round, DeGale was happy to hold.

Both men have made their way to the ring - we are about to get underway! DeGale smiles at Eubank Jr as he enters the ring, we'll see which man will be wearing look in one hour's time.

Chris Eubank Jr arrives to the dulcet tones of Snoop Dogg, and boos. DeGale, meanwhile, soaks in the clamour of the crowd.

Joe Joyce bt Bermane Stiverne (TKO R6)

Joyce absolutely dominated from start to finish in this one-sided contest. He was the trimmer of the two fighters - Stiverne hadn't entered the ring heavier in his career - and it showed from the offset.

After causing Stiverne to buckle in the third round, from which he was given a standing count, Joyce continued to hit the stationary head.

Howard Foster had seen enough in the sixth round, bringing the contest to an end while Stiverne's corner was in disarray.

9.50pm: DOWN! Stiverne, who weighed in at a career-high 273lb for this fight, looks absolutely knackered. Early into the third he buckles without hitting the deck. Steadies himself for the fourth round but is not getting anything out there.

9.45pm: WOW! Stiverne's corner must have considered throwing in the towel during that second round. The former WBC world champion was offering no head movement and getting hit regularly with simple left-right combinations. You wouldn't think this will go on much linger.

The first round most certainly goes Joyce's way, as he backed his Canadian opponent onto the ropes for its duration. 

9.30pm: After a short interlude, the main support of the evening is about to get underway.

Bermane Stiverne makes his way to the ring looking very composed to his accompanying reggae music. Joyce, on the other hand, arrives dead focused. Neither man touches gloves at the start following a heated press conference two days ago.

Lee Selby bt Omar Douglas (UD)

Selby wins a unanimous decision to claim the IBF Inter-Continental Lightweight title, which came as a surprise to many ringside.

The judges' scorecards were 116-112, 116-112 and 115-114 in favour of Lightning, who sustained a cut on his left eye in the second round. Selby celebrated the win in muted fashion, producing a rye smile as his arm was raised, while Douglas hung his head in disappointment.

9.15pm: We enter the last round of this lightweight contest and it has been a tough one for Selby, who last sping was being heralded as one of the most gifted British boxers around.

Moving up a division, the 32-year-old has been given a tough welcoming to 126lb pugilism, and claret is splashed across his face come the final bell.

9pm: Every fight has gone the distance so far and this looks another sure bet. Douglas has smiled at Selby througout and lets out a small grin at the end of the eighth. Blood is now coming from both of the Welshman's eyes - this fight is still in the balance.

8.50pm: Blood continues to stream out of Selby's left eye, and Lightning is being put under pressure by his Delaware-born opponent. Shortly after the seventh round begins, the referee checks Selby's eye but engages to two men soon after.

8.40pm: The Welshman has a cut by his left eye and is no longer controlling the fight after three rounds. Douglas is backing up the former IBF super featherweight world champion and Tony Bellew, who is ringside, says Selby could be in trouble. 

Chezerae Nihell bt Kent Kauppinen (PTS)

The debutant gets off to a clean start in his professional debut, coming out on the right end of a 39-37 decision.

The four-round fight had fireworks in the final round as Kauppinen went for the knockout, throwing wild haymakers but not connecting.

8pm: No rest as Nihell, fighting out of Aldershot, makes his debut in this four-round cruiserweight contest. He is expected to defeat his 2-7 opponent - let's see if we get our first knockout of the night.

Andre Sterling bt Ricky Summers (UD)

Sterling claims a surprisingly wide decision as the judges score the bout 97-92, 97-92 and 97-93 in favour of the Lambeth fighter.

The 28-year-old was dropped in the second round but came back strongly to claim a margin of victory that is wider than the closeness of the bout suggests.

7.30pm: It's a real tight one this. Summers look to be tiring, engaging in clinches more willingly and resting on his opponent.

An atmosphere has begun to build about this one, with both men bringing large fanbases to North Greenwich. 

Summers' eye has been dealt with well by his corner, but Sterling continues to go after it.

7.15pm: Summers drops Sterling in the second round of the contest, but the smaller man picked himself up from the canvas and regained a hold in the round.

As we enter the fourth, Sterling has continued to go in heavy on Summers' body, which has left him gasping at each bell.

Summers does have cause for concern with blood running from his right eye, but it does not seem like an open wound.

7pm: Ringside is beginning to fill out now with famous faces such as Tony Bellew in attendance.

Debate is already stirring about the main event, with DeGale rumoured to be coming in at over 12st tonight.

Next up on the card, however, is Ricky Summers vs Andre Sterling for the British light heavyweight title.

6.45pm: Anthony Cacace bt Alan Castillo (PTS)

The super featherweight contest spanned eight rounds as the doors opened at the O2 Arena, and both fighters gave those who did enter their seats eagerly good value.

Neither man was in a state of struggle for the 24 minutes they traded blows, and embraced afterwards in what was a hard-fought contest.

But it was Anthony Cacace who claimed the victory with the sole judge scoring the bout 79-74 in favour of the Northern Irishman.

A good, fair fight to start proceedings - not long until Ricky Summers and Andre Sterling make their way to the stage...

GOOD EVENING

Welcome to live coverage of James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr from the O2 Arena!

We are ringside for the biggest British pay-per-view event of the year so far, and will be guiding you throughout the night, from the undercard to the main event.

So kick back and enjoy the coverage, we're in for one hell of a night...