Chris Eubank Snr cast doubt on whether his son can defeat James DeGale this weekend just two days before the British super-middleweight rivals collide at the O2 Arena.

DeGale and Brighton's Chris Eubank Jr traded several barbs at today's heated press conference, regularly talking over one another.

But it was the former's father who stole the headlines when he said he was "petrified of what the outcome could be".

Rather than being fearful of his son taking sustained punishment, the former two-weight world champion's comments seemed to reflect on DeGale's ability to win and perhaps deprive Eubank Jr of pay-per-view status.

Saturday's bout is being screened in the United Kingdom on ITV Box Office, a platform Eubank Sr says could rival established broadcasters Sky and BT in the future.

Eubank Sr said: "This is most certainly a 50-50 fight, and for the first time I am petrified of what the outcome could be.

"We have worked – and I'm talking about Team Eubank – two and a half years to stay on this channel, ITV. I have been the one pushing for this pay-per-view channel to come alive.

"We can actually bring that back to a channel, ITV, that is eight or nine times bigger than Sky.

"I've been staying in for the business and for my son to actually realise the benefits of the price I've paid for all these years. So I am petrified that he may not win this fight."

Former two-weight world champion Eubank Snr thinks his son has the physical edge but feels DeGale's status as an Olympic gold medallist and former champion at 168lbs means he cannot be underestimated.

Asked whether he thought his son would win the bout for the lightly-regarded vacant IBO title, Eubank Snr added: "No I'm not convinced because James DeGale has pedigree.

"(DeGale has) the pedigree that is spoken about in terms of gold medallists and former world champions. Junior hasn't.

"From a physical aspect, Junior has the upper hand but from a spiritual aspect and from a pedigree aspect, James may have the upper hand, so it's a 50-50 fight and bigger than the IBO championship is a pay-per-view platform which is gargantuan."