IT CAN only be one of two things; either a testament to the rude health of British boxing, or an indictment of the disrespect afforded its fans by the moneymen responsible for making a non-title domestic bout between two fighters on the downslide pay per view.

While tonight’s clash at the O2 between former IBF world champion James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr — broadcast on ITV Box Office — has more than a few ingredients to commend it, the distinct whiff of two fighters cashing in as their respective careers wind down — in DeGale’s case to retirement, in Eubank’s to irrelevancy — is hard to overlook.

DeGale, whom it now seems extraordinary to recall bagged a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has certainly been making noises to that effect, while Eubank has undeniably lost his lustre since going down to a heavy defeat at the hands of George Groves a year ago at the Manchester Arena.