Quinlan won his version of the 12 stone title by halting former world champion Daniel Geale inside two rounds earlier this year – and that display means he has earnt Eubank’s respect and even admiration.
“I’m not taking anything away from Quinlan because he is putting his world title on the line thousands of miles from home, plus he has just beaten Geale, the man who beat the likes of Felix Sturm and Anthony Mundine. He must be a good fighter if he has beaten boxers of the calibre of those two.
“I take my hat off to Quinlan. I have been avoided by other fighters – I know I have – whereas he has stepped up to the plate and fought his title outside his own backyard. That takes some doing. He has not talked about taking on the best out there, he has actually done it.”
As for the IBO title, Eubank Jnr says the list of previous champions means it too deserves respect.
“Gennady Golovkin was recently champion and look at the past list, it reads like a who’s who of boxing – Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed, Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones Jnr, Bernard Hopkins. You are talking about some of the best pound for pound fighters ever.
“I think it is a world title and I will do everything in my power to make sure I wrestle it from Renold Quinlan.
“Quinlan is a good fighter, but I know I am an exceptional one and I will prove that in the ring.”
