George Groves has criticised Chris Eubank Jr. for wrapping his own hands before fights and claimed his camp are "totally deluded".
Eubank (26-1, 20 KOs), 28, challenges WBA super-middleweight champion Groves (27-3, 20 KOs), 29, in a semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series -- an eight-man elimination tournament -- at Manchester Arena on Feb. 17.
Veteran trainer Ronnie Davies will be in Eubank Jr.'s corner, just as he was for the boxer's father Chris Sr when he ruled as world middleweight and super-middleweight titleholder in the 1990s.
But Eubank Jr. has previously claimed he trains himself, like he did before facing Australia's Renold Quinlan on Feb. 4, his first fight at 12 stones, as well as wrapping his own hands.
"A lot of people will be impressed that he claims to do it all by himself," Groves told reporters. "But what athlete in the world in the world doesn't have fantastic support team around them?
"Do you think Lewis Hamilton changes the tyres himself? It is just plain ignorance to believe you can do it all on your own.
"Junior wraps his own hands I believe. Maybe he puts on the facade that 'I can do it all myself'. It's very difficult doing everything on your own. This is his first real fight, definitely at super-middleweight, and he's going to fall short on a lot of categories."
It will be Eubank's fourth fight as a super-middleweight after he disposed of Turkey's Avni Yildirim in the third round on Oct. 7, following a points win over former titleholder Arthur Abraham on July 15 and the stoppage win over little-known Quinlan.
Londoner Groves also claimed his English rival does not belong in the 12-stone division.
"Eubank's camp are totally deluded," Groves told reporters. "He is fighting in a division he doesn't belong in. He is a middleweight who punches from his hips with his chin up in the air. They are deluded."
Groves argues Eubank has benefited from his father's profile and personality, but says his superior experience will be the defining factor for a fight that sold out within an hour at the 21,000 capacity indoor arena.
After three defeats in world title fights before winning the belt by stoppage over Russia's Fedor Chudinov in May, Groves admits his career may not recover from another setback.
"It's a pivotal moment in his relationship with his Dad," said Groves. "So far his Dad has alleviated a lot of the attention from the son. So far he has done him a massive favour inadvertently by being addicted to the limelight and people have bought into it and think he's the real thing. He hasn't boxed to the highest level.
"I've boxed at top level for years. I had a rocky 18 months, two years which was awful, and I had to rebuild. I won't be able to do that again. I know every fight could be my last fight."
Brighton-based Eubank, who does not lack confidence like his father, shrugged off the criticism and vowed to carry on as he always has done.
"George seems to be focused on what I'm going to do and how I'm going to change or conform," responded Eubank.
"He really needs to worry about himself. I'm going to do what I've done my whole career, which is to use my intuition to overcome obstacles."