NICK BLACKWELL is relishing the underdog status he has been given ahead of his British middleweight title defence against Chris Eubank Jr.

The Trowbridge slugger can be backed at 5/1 with some bookies for his fight at the SSE Arena in Wembley on Saturday night [March 26].

At the pre-fight conference – for which Eubank and his team were over an hour late – Blackwell told Boxing News he is more than ready for fight night.

“I’m looking forward to defending my belt, especially against someone I don’t really like,” he said.

“I know I’m the underdog but I love it, that’s the way it’s always been for me and that’s what I love. I’m ready to prove a lot of people wrong.”

The build-up has become increasingly fraught as time has gone on, with Eubank branding Blackwell ‘boring.’

The champion does not take much from what he calls ‘mind games.’

“He’s a p****. He’s pretending to be something he’s not and is just trying to get under my skin.

“I know I’ve got the advantage in experience. I just can’t wait to get in there. He’s been disrepectful, and he’s doing it again by being late today.”