NICK Blackwell has reiterated his desire for a chance to knock Chris Eubank Jr off his perch but isn’t expecting his next title defence to take place against the current British number one.

Blackwell's promoter Mick Hennessy submitted the highest purse bid this afternoon and will now look to secure a date and venue for the Blackwell v Eubank Jr. fight in the coming weeks.

The son of former world champion Chris Eubank has been made the mandatory challenger for Blackwell’s British title, but the Trowbridge champion isn’t holding his breath.

Blackwell said: “Earlier this year I boxed on Eubank Jr.'s promoter's show and knocked out John Ryder, his promotional stable-mate, to win the British middleweight title.

"I was more than prepared to do the same again if his promoter won the purse bid for my British title fight with Chris Eubank Jr. But he didn't.''

Addressing Eubank, Blackwell added: “So, Chris, are you going to be man enough to come and fight me on a Hennessy Sports show next year? Your answer to that question will tell me a lot about your own self-belief and also the faith your team have in you.

“The last time we shared a ring – in sparring – you were supposed to do six rounds with me but couldn't handle the pace and pulled out after five. My worry is that you have a habit of pulling out when the going gets tough and when you can't have it your own way.

“I know I'm your worst nightmare. You know it, too. Just make sure you don't pull out of our fight next year. It's time to step away from your dad's shadow and make your own decisions in life.”

Last weekend, Brighton’s Eubank Jr beat Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan at London’s O2 Arena in a final eliminator for the WBA world middleweight belt – American Daniel Jacobs is the current holder – and despite the British Boxing Board of Control attempting to match him and Blackwell, the Wiltshire ace doesn’t see his opposite number stepping back down to domestic level.

“I'm telling myself the fight will happen and that he won't pull out again, but he's withdrawn from an eliminator and a final eliminator in the past and has also turned down a good private offer to fight me,” said Blackwell.

“You never know – he might man-up and do the right thing, but I think he'll be hoping for a Billy Joe Saunders rematch. He'll want Billy Joe to beat Andy Lee this Saturday night and then fight him for the WBO title.

“He'll think Billy Joe is an easier opponent than me and won't want to get beaten up by me in a British title fight.

“I just want to get in there and beat Eubank Jr up. He thinks he's invincible at the minute and it's quite amusing to me, having been in the ring with him before (in sparring).

“I know he's not invincible. So does Billy Joe Saunders. I just want the chance to prove it and shock a few people.”

Blackwell also thinks that his claims he would beat Eubank Jr hold plenty of weight following the pair’s previous meetings in the training ring.

“The last time I sparred him (in 2014), it was the first spar of my training camp and I beat him up,” said the 25-year-old, who defended his coveted British crown for the second time with victory over Jack Arnfield in Bristol last month.

“I smashed him around the body and he didn't like it. We were supposed to do six rounds and he got out after five.

“He can say it was a bad day but even his trainer, Ronnie Davies, said to me: 'He needed that. He needed a good beating today’. Ronnie then said: 'Listen, you two will never, ever fight, unless there's a lot of money and a big title on the line’.

“Eubank Jr's obviously got better since then, but so have I. If he thinks I was strong then – and, believe me, he did – imagine what he'd think if we sparred or fought now.”

Whatever the outcome of his mooted clash with Eubank Jr, Blackwell, who trains under Gary Lockett in Cardiff, is simply proud to be on the cusp of defending the British strap outright.

He added: “It doesn't really matter who I fight. Yeah, it would be good to beat Eubank Jr, and he's my ideal next opponent, but I just want to win that Lonsdale belt outright.

“Not many people can say they've done that and when you take into account the fact I've come from an unlicensed background, with not one amateur fight to my name, it's quite an achievement.

“I'd be delighted to be able to have that British title for keeps.”

Promoter Hennessy added: “Chris Eubank Jr. might be hoping to fight for a world title, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. If it was imminent, or even a possibility, why would his promoter submit such a large bid for a British title fight? 

“I know Chris Eubank Jr. has wanted to win the British title for a long time, so it came as no surprise to me when I heard his promoter had submitted a large bid.

"I'm just delighted we were able to better that offer; we now look forward to promoting a British title blockbuster between two world-class fighters next year.”