This weekend’s grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Williams is a make-or-break moment in their careers.
The all-British middleweight dust-up, live on Sky Sports, pits the polarising Eubank against the no nonsense Williams in Cardiff giving the Welshman home advantage.
Eubank Jr turns 33 in September while Williams celebrates his 30th birthday in May. The clock is ticking on both men’s chances of winning a world title.
As often is the case in boxing we cannot help but peek over the horizon at what may lie ahead. So, with that being said, Boxing Social brings picks out three options for the winner’s next fight.
Chris Eubank Jr v Ryota Murata
The Brit is the number one contender with the World Boxing Association and Murata holds the world middleweight title. Simple. Well, not quite. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic means travelling overseas is never guaranteed. Eubank Jr has already fought in the away corner when he blasted out Avni Yildirim in Germany five years ago. And just like his world championship winning father the thought of being the away day villain seems to spur him on. Murata was set to face Gennadiy Golovkin last month, but the fight was pulled when Japan brought back tighter border controls due to the Omicron variant. Reports suggest the fight will be rescheduled for March/April, but nothing is ever certain in boxing.
Chris Eubank Jr v Gennadiy Golovkin
Image: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
It feels like ‘GGG’ has been called out by Eubank Jr for years, and he has! The Kazakh superstar was set to face Jr five years ago which led to ‘Pen-gate’, accusations but ultimately the fight never happened. Golovkin is now just three months shy of his 40th fight and his aura and fear factor aren’t what it once was. Eubank Jr v Golovkin would be a hot ticket and a fight that would generate a lot of money.
Chris Eubank Jr v Billy Joe Saunders 2
The rematch that never happened but the talk never goes away. Two men who have no time for one another and despite their fight having taken place in 2014 the animosity has rarely dwindled. On that occasion, which was a tale of two fights in one, Saunders had his hand raised after 12 rounds. The former two-weight world champion hasn’t fought since losing to Canelo Alvarez and despite talk of retirement nothing has been officially announced. If the money was right Saunders would love nothing more than to inflict another loss on his rival’s record.
Liam Williams v Felix Cash
Two men who prefer to talk with their fists, are not afraid to do the dirty stuff in the ring and would collide heavily in the middle of it. With Cash set to face WBA number three contender Magomed Madiev in February a fight against Williams could act as a final eliminator such would be their positions in the rankings if both win their next fights. It would be nasty, bloody, not for purisits, but you wouldn’t take your eyes off it. A real scrap and a fight that would still whet the appetite if Williams lost this Saturday.
Liam Williams v Sergiy Derevyanchenko
Beating Eubank Jr would put Williams near the doorstep waiting for a world title invite but might not be allowed in immediately. So, why not have a fight in the meantime? Derevyanchenko, now 36, gave Golovkin one of the toughest fights of his careers in 2019 and for many he deserved the decision. Two back-to-back losses against Jermall Charlo and Carlos Adames mean the end of the line is near for the Ukrainian, but he would be a respectable test for Williams and still pose a threat.
Liam Williams v Carlos Adames
Jaime Munguia may get first dibs on the Murata-Golovkin winner, should it be made. That would leave Williams with a path to choose. ‘The Machine’ would be in the top two with the WBA should he beat Eubank Jr and would receive a nudge upwards with the WBC and IBF. With pieces on the board constantly moving, Jermall Charlo may move up 168lbs to fight Canelo Alvarez which may free up the WBC middleweight title. Williams could find himself in a final eliminator against Adames, an interim fight or one for the vacant title. A lot hinges on the next move made by Jaime Munguia who is the number one and two contender with the ‘BC and ‘BA, respectively.
Who do you think the winner of Eubank Jr and Williams should face next?