British middleweight champion Tommy Langford is tipping George Groves to beat his former sparring partner Chris Eubank Jr. when the pair meet in Saturday's World Boxing Super Series semifinal.
Langford, who makes a first title defence against Jack Arnfield on the undercard of the Manchester Arena showdown, first sparred with Eubank (26-1, 20 KOs) two years ago and says he does not "hit hard enough" to beat WBA world super-middleweight champion Groves (27-3, 20 KOs).
"I've sparred with Eubank and I know he doesn't hit hard and have one-punch power," Langford, 28, told ESPN.
"I don't think he hits hard enough. Carl Froch hits tremendously hard, Badou Jack has gone up to light-heavyweight and he didn't knock out Groves so I don't think Eubank has got the one-punch power to do that.
"I've sparred with a lot of fighters that hit harder than Eubank. Callum Smith [who boxes Juergen Braehmer in the other WBSS semifinal on Feb. 24] is a lot better than Eubank and I've sparred a lot of rounds with him.
"He's very sharp and fast so he might land three or four on the trot and it might rattle Groves, but it won't knock him out.
"I've heard that Groves has got dynamite power. Look what he did to Carl Froch in their first fight [Groves floored Froch in the first round, then lost by ninth round stoppage; the following year, Froch knocked out Groves in the eighth round].
"It depends if Eubank thinks he can walk through him. But if he takes a few solid jabs, I think Groves will win on points. I hope for boxing Groves wins too."
Birmingham-based Langford had been scheduled to challenge Eubank for the British middleweight title in October 2016, but his opponent pulled out injured before stepping up a division last year.
"Eubank will try anything to get the win," he continued. "I sparred with him a couple of years ago and it was a strange situation. I was supposed to fight him when he was British middleweight champion but he vacated the belt.
"He's got a brilliant hype train and he has been very well-publicised. People have bought into the hype and he's even the betting favourite.
"But if you look at their boxing careers and who they have been in with, you have to pick Groves."