Harlem Eubank believes that he is built to handle both the mental and physical pressure he will be put under when he fights Belfast’s aggressive Tyrone McKenna, 24-5-1 (7 KOs), in his hometown of Brighton on March 7th.

Channel 5 will televise the twelve round welterweight fight.

After a slow burning start to life as a professional, Eubank, 20-0 (8 KOs), made rapid strides in 2022 and 2023 and rounded out a successful period by becoming the first man to stop the respected 140lb gatekeeper, Timo Schwarzkopf in November 2023.

His progress then came to a shuddering halt.

Initially, it looked like his career would continue on its upward trajectory. Last March, Eubank was a spectator at the British heavyweight title fight between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke when he called into the ring to face off with hot 140lb prospect, Adam Azim.

Rather than engaging in the type of high risk, high reward fight that would have elevated him to a new level, Eubank ended up spending months on the sidelines. Wrist and ankle injuries prevented Azim from setting a firm date for the clash and Eubank - eventually and understandably - grew tired of waiting and decided to move on with his career.

Last November he returned as a welterweight and ground out a dull, scrappy eight round decision win over negative Frenchman, Nurali Erdogan.

Eubank is still relatively fresh but as a 30 year old newcomer to the 147lb division, time is suddenly of the essence. He needs to make a statement.

At Tuesday’s launch press conference, the all-action McKenna acknowledged that he is the underdog in the fight but wondered aloud how Eubank will deal with the increasing pressure he faces.

“Who says pressure is a bad thing? I love the pressure,” Eubank said. “My name is Eubank, the first time I stepped in the ring what do you think that is? You're going to be under pressure on March 7th and you're going to be on the receiving end of some hard, heavy pressure.”

McKenna has mixed at a different level to Eubank.

Although he has always gives a whole hearted effort, the 6ft 1in tall southpaw has been beaten by top class fighters Jack Catterall, Regis Prograis and he has also lost to fringe level operators like Ohara Davies and Lewis Crocker. Last December he returned from a short lived retirement to beat his Irish rival, Dylan Moran, in an outrageous two round brawl.

McKenna, 34, prides himself on his toughness and revels in his reputation as ‘the hardest man in Ireland.’

A series of brutal fights have inevitably taken a toll on him physically but they haven’t affected his love of a war. He is positive that Eubank is totally unprepared for the level of intensity he will bring on March 7th.

Eubank is the polar opposite of McKenna both inside and outside of the ring and believes that he will give McKenna a stark reminder of his limitations.

“Tyrone is going to be in for a hard night,” Eubank said.

“He likes the wars, he’s picked the wrong one this time and he'll find that out the hard way on March 7th.

“He's operated at a very high level. Because of that resume and that he's fought at up to world level and he's fought great opposition - you can't take that away from him - he’ll believe that he is going to walk into this fight and come out victorious and I'm here to put an end to those mistruths that he's planted in his head. I think that he could be in for his toughest night.

“If he's in for a long night, it’s going to it's going to be a lot of hurt for him so I hope I hope to end it early for him to put him out his misery.”