Chris Eubank Junior has warned champion Nick Blackwell he is in big trouble in their British title showdown.

Brighton fighter Eubank Jr challenges Blackwell for his middleweight belt at the SSE Arena, Wembley, on Saturday night.

The pair have sparred before in their professional careers but 26-year-old Eubank Jr says Blackwell is making a big mistake if he is basing his plans for a successful defence on their past meetings.

Eubank Jr, 26, who will have his father Chris Eubank senior and Ronnie Davies in his corner, told The Argus: “He knows the fighter that I was, unfortunately for him I am a different animal now.

“He knows the basics but they are not going to get you very far with me now, you need to be an expert. If he’s based his training on what I used to be, he’s in big trouble.”

Former interim WBA world middleweight champion Eubank Jr has taken a step back to challenge Trowbridge fighter Blackwell on a show being televised by Channel 5.

WBO world middleweight Billy Joe Saunders, who inflicted Eubank Jr’s only defeat, says Blackwell has a very good chance of beating his arch-rival.

Eubank beat tough Irishman Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan in a final world title eliminator in December.

O’Sullivan was pulled out by his corner at the end of the seventh round after taking the fight to Eubank Jr. Eubank says Blackwell’s style is similar to O’Sullivan’s – and perfect for him.

He said: “Blackwell’s a come forward fighter and that’s perfect for me, as people saw against O’Sullivan.

“As you’ve seen in the past, if my opponents come forward then I am going to eat them up and spit them back out.

“Once Blackwell tries to come forward, he is going to realise it is not working and he will be forced to fight on the backfoot – and he can’t fight on the backfoot. That’s when he will start to fall apart I believe.”

Eubank Jr believes has better skills than O’Sullivan – but does not expect him to stand up to his power.

Eubank Jr said: “He is a better boxer than O’Sullivan but not as powerful. Has he got the chin? I don’t believe he will be able to hold the shots I will be hitting him with.

“I know what I have done to him in the past in sparring and that was years ago when I was not the fighter I am today.

“Obviously, he denies all this but I know what happened and that’s all that matters. I am very confident.”