Mike Costello
BBC Sport boxing correspondent

I do think we have seen the best of DeGale but I think if we see a good version of him he wins the fight. I'm also told that DeGale wants this so bad simply because it's Eubank Jr.

He still dislikes the reaction of Eubank Jr in publicising details from when they sparred years ago.

Image source, .

Steve Bunce
BBC Radio 5 live boxing pundit

I spoke to two people with 80 years' experience in boxing at the news conference about this fight and they had no clue on who wins.

If Eubank beats DeGale in style then it is the end of DeGale as a serious contender. It's certainly the end for Eubank as a big earner if DeGale wins. It's an intriguing fight - a fresher and under-threat Eubank is my choice.

5 Live Boxing's Mike Costello and Steve Bunce react to Chris Eubank Sr's comments about being "petrified" of the outcome of his son's super-middleweight fight against James DeGale.

Listen to the latest 5 Live Boxing podcast with Costello and Bunce - DeGale v Eubank Jr: Who wins, and why?

Chris Eubank Jr says facing James DeGale represents a "do or die" moment in his career, with his father admitting he is "petrified" of defeat. Eubank Jr, 29, competes at London's O2 Arena on Saturday and DeGale has said retirement looms for whoever loses.

"We are both on the edge and at a stage where we can't lose," said Eubank Jr.

His father said: "Physically, Junior has the upper hand and from a spiritual and pedigree aspect, James does. I am not convinced Junior will win."

Chris Eubank Sr has stated in the past his son could emulate the undefeated American great Floyd Mayweather but defeat by George Groves a year ago has raised questions over whether Eubank Jr can win at the sport's highest level.

"From a physical point of view, I don't think anyone can stand with my son but it's also spiritual," added Eubank Sr, a former two-weight world champion. "This is where Jr lacks that blessing.

"It's the only thing that allowed me to win championship fights. Spiritually, I am buoyant. I don't know whether he has that. This is most certainly a 50-50 fight and for the first time I am petrified of what the outcome could be."

Declan Warrington of the Press Association...

RobbieL: Degale hasn't looked great in recent fights, and Eubank was exposed to a degree by Groves as someone who struggles against decent movement, which Degale has in spades. A tough one to call - I have no doubt that a peak Degale wins, but has he fallen far enough? Rightly very close with the bookies. Should be apparent after two or three rounds who will win, but picking a winner beforehand is not easy!

BishopLoyal: The perfect example of a 50/50 fight ... my heart wants DeGale to win it but my head says that Eubank's power might be the telling factor. A lot will depend how much Junior has taken on board from his new trainer as, quite frankly, he looked like a raw amateur against Groves. And how much does "Chunky" have left in the tank after some bruising recent battles? It really is a tough one to call!!!

But DeGale has had some cutting words of his own this week.

"It's all dawned on him - he's finished. I promise you will get a schooling, said DeGale. "I'm proven, you idiot. I have won everything. You have done nothing."

DeGale gave up the world super-middleweight title he won back from Caleb Truax in April and has lost twice in 28 outings. Eubank Jr - who has two defeats in 29 fights - recently tweeted DeGale imploring him not to "cheat" fans and "run around the ring all night".

DeGale said: "In other words that's saying 'James don't use your boxing ability and out box me. Let's stand there make it hard and give me a chance'.

"Do you know what, I am going to come out and give it to you properly. You can't box, Chris. "This is the biggest fight of his career, retirement time. Whoever loses this is done."

We've all heard pre-fight build-up where the fighters insult each other in an attempt to boost the fight ratings, but this time, maybe, it seems there is just pure hatred.

Take these quotes from Chris Eubank Jr from an interview in the Metro where he says: "It all started at his gym when we sparred. I bullied him for eight rounds, embarrassed him in front of his team and he ended up kicking me and my team out.

"He was very disrespectful so I went on social media and told everyone I schooled him - we've never been alright since.

"I just don't really like him as a person - he's not a good guy. His mannerisms, the way he talks, the type of person he is, he's just not a likeable guy. Most of the time you don't have anything against your opponents - it's just business - but this one is personal, the biggest grudge match of my career."

Ouch!

On to the main event - James DeGale v Chris Eubank. It's fair to say they don't like each other.

Joe Joyce tells ITV Box Office: "Big respect to Bermane Stiverne, he's very tough and stuck in there but I guess I was just too much. It was about being patient as he's such a tough guy he took all those shots.

"There are big things to come.

"I've sparred Fury, Joshua but not Wilder. I have held my own and think I'm close to that level."

It's over now! Howard Foster says Bermane Stiverne has had enough. It is a good stoppage as Stiverne was just getting battered from about 90 seconds onwards.

Joe Joyce now has eight wins from eight fights. Another boost to a rapidly-growing reputation.

A beautiful one-two from Joyce. It's never over until it's over though.

Another dominant round from Joyce. Stiverne's only attacking move came after the bell, shouting out something at the Brit. There was no attacking with the fists though in that fifth.

"You need to do something different, throw that jab and that right hand," Stiverne is told.

Not much coming back from Stiverne. Are these the last minutes of the former world champion's boxing career?

Stiverne, with mouth wide open gasping for air, continues to be hit by lefts, rights, uppercuts, pretty much every shot in the book. Stiverne deserves credit for still being in there, maybe not so much for his conditioning. Four gone, Joyce probably has all four.

Joe Joyce can even start the showboating, winding up a right hand. The earlier right that sent Stiverne crashing into the ropes for a count was a thing of beauty.

Surely this is the last fight of Stiverne's career. Have a look on You Tube at the brutal way his second fight with Deontay Wilder ended. Stiverne is just taking relentless punishment. Looking for one Hollywood punch, but no signs of it so far.

World flyweight champion Charlie Edwards...