Chris Eubank Jr got his career back on track after a dominant performance against Liam Smith in September, but has now officially turned down the chance to become mandatory for the WBO middleweight title.
Eubank was knocked out for the first time in his career by Smith at the beginning of the year, with many suggesting it could be the end of the road for the Son of a boxing legend. However, eight months later and against the odds, Eubank bounced back with a punch perfect win in their rematch and has risen in both the middleweight and pound-for-pound rankings as a result.
Straight after the fight Eubank called out Conor Benn but has always said he intends to win a world title before he hangs up the gloves. It now appears clear which route Eubank is taking, with his team sending an email to the WBO, asking not to be installed as a mandatory challenger for current champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly.
“We kindly request that you refrain from considering him for any mandatory bouts or eliminators for your esteemed titles in the forthcoming weeks.
Currently, we are in the midst of negotiations for an alternative fight on his behalf, and we wish to be considerate of everyone’s time, while also ensuring opportunities for other fighters are preserved.”
Eddie Hearn has made no secret of his intentions to make the family rivalry fight for December 23 in the UK and it would appear from Eubank’s letter that all teams are on the same page.