CHRIS Eubank finally turned up in Belfast yesterday for Saturday's WBO

super-middleweight showdown, and immediately delivered a withering

broadside to challenger Ray Close.

Eubank, having snubbed previous requests to promote the fight, did

nothing to lift the ill-feeling with promoters Frank Warren and Barney

Eastwood when he told Close: ''You're simply out of your depth. All of

you are out of your depths. Ray is a nice man, but I will beat him this

time. He's had his chance.''

Many experts thought Close was unlucky to be given only a draw when he

challenged Eubank for the title in Glasgow last year.

Warren attacked the champion for failing to help the promotion, and

complained that 25% of the tickets have still to be sold. He said:

''Chris has been very unprofessional and, with the way he has conducted

himself, deserves little respect as a champion.

''We have an Argentinian world champion on the bill, and he arrived 10

days before Saturday night's fight, which is the way a champion should

act.''

Barry Hearn, Eubank's manager, jumped to the defence of his fighter

for delaying his arrival in Belfast. ''I am in the hands of Chris

Eubank's trainers, who have said he must train until the last moment to

get the very best out of him.''