The war of words between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr has continued ahead of their British megafight next month.
Smith, who will fight Eubank Jr at the AO Arena in Manchester on January 21, is undefeated in his last three bouts after stopping Anthony Fowler, Jessie Vargas and Hassan Mwakinyo.
And the former Archbishop Beck pupil is looking to draw on the lessons of his ninth-round stoppage loss to former pound-for-pound No.1 Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez back in 2016 when he takes on Eubank Jr.
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"I feel like that's played a big part in my career," Smith said. "Chris is looking at that like 'you've been down, you've been stopped', I said to him face to face: 'Yeah I got stopped with a body shot off the best fighter in the world, the No 1 fighter in the world at that time'.
"You're no Canelo Alvarez. Chris Eubank couldn't lace Canelo's boots, so I'm confident the Canelo fight taught me a lot as a man in my pro career.
"Again, Chris Eubank is no Canelo Alvarez and what I learnt in that fight will be enough to beat Chris."
Eubank Jr claimed on Tuesday that he only needs to come into the fight at 50 percent to be able to deal with Smith. But 'Beefy', a former world champion at light-middleweight, has warned the 33-year-old he will 'wipe the floor' with him if he does.
He said: "I'm a little bit clever, he's not going to eat me away with words, I'm just correcting him every time he says something that doesn't make sense.
"He feels that's getting under my skin, it's not. It's far from it. If I was to go for him or throw something - something out of character - then he's got under my skin.
"I said to him before: 'you feel you've got under my skin, I'm just telling you what I'd tell any opponent sitting across the table to me - you will not beat me at 50 per cent'.
"I don't think Chris Eubank at 100 percent beats me, so 50 percent? Good luck to you, because I'll wipe the floor with you."
Eubank Jr was set to face Conor Benn in a grudge match in October, but the fight was postponed at the eleventh hour after the latter tested positive for the banned substance clomifene.
And the 33-year-old believes his jab, foot movement and defensive ability will see him come out on top at the AO Arena.
"I learnt that even at this age I have still got it. I have a jab, I have foot movement, I have great defensive ability. That's what I'll do against Liam Smith in January," he told Sky Sports News.
"Liam Smith is very predictable, he is very ABC, 123 type fighter. There [is] nothing he is going to do that is going to surprise me. There's no tricks up his sleeve.
"I can box, I can brawl, I can run, defend, attack. I have all the options. He uses the same tactic each time and I will exploit that.
"I have told him that I need to be 50 per cent to beat him, that's in my humble opinion. If I had a bad foot, a bad leg and a bad arm I would deal with him.
“He has to prove me wrong. He says he's going to knock me out, but I hear that narrative each time I get into the ring. It never happens. Maybe it'll be different, but I doubt it."
With the fight set to take place at the start of the year, both fighters will be in camp over Christmas, but Eubank has no plans to miss out on his Christmas dinner.
"Christmas Day, Boxing Day, birthdays, Easter, New Years - Chris Eubank Jr is in the gym. We sacrifice what's needed to perform under the big lights at the highest levels,” he said.
"Christmas Day I will be in the gym. I make weight responsibly. I make weight well. I have my turkey and sausages with bacon wrapped around. I am not going to sacrifice my Christmas dinner, not for Liam Smith."
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