After months of speculation and expectation of an announcement for a showdown with Conor Benn, it seems that Chris Eubank Jr is now looking at alternative opponents, and possibly title opportunities. However, the former IBO super-middleweight champion believes that his promoter Wasserman Boxing feel he should pursue a different route.
Eubank-Benn seemed set for early 2024, with Eddie Hearn claiming that the pair would likely meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 3.
When news broke this week that talks have fallen apart and that both men will be seeking new dance partners,
Ranked at #1 and #2 with the WBO and WBC, Eubank finds himself in a prime position to challenge for world honours for the second time in his career, as he looks to go one better than he did in his 2018 defeat to George Groves.
Despite initially turning down the offer to fight unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, Eubank took to social media to announce that he had agreed to fight the undefeated Kazakh only for his promoter to take the reins and push him towards a clash with Italian contender, Etinosa Oliha, who sits at #13 with the IBF but holds the much less-respected IBO.
“Went to sleep after agreeing to fight Janibek for world titles… Woke up and now my promoter [Kalle Sauerland] is trying to make me fight Etinosa Oliha, a boxer nobody has heard of. @WassermanBoxing How and why?”
Went to sleep after agreeing to fight Janibek for world titles… Woke up & now my promoter @sauerlandbros is trying make me fight Etinosa Oliha a boxer nobody has heard of… @wassermanboxing how & why? ?
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) December 16, 2023
Ironically, Eubank’s original reason for picking against a title challenge against Alimkhanuly was that nobody had heard of him, but after the likely monumental payday with Benn has collapsed, the WBO and IBF title-holder is now the man the Brit is after.
