Chris Eubank Jr’s next fight is set to be announced, leaving one domestic rival high and dry.
Conor Benn was expected to return to the ring this June to finally face Eubank over eight months after the proposed date of their original bout, which was cancelled following Benn’s positive drugs test.
With Benn being without a British boxing license, there were always going to be difficulties in rescheduling the fight between the ‘born rivals’, and even the Middle East playing host didn’t seem to solve everything.
The British Boxing Board of Control claimed that, even though the fight would be taking place abroad and under a different commission, Eubank would need to apply for permission to face Benn and that he would be unlikely to get it given the current situation.
Perhaps out of frustration at the inevitable boundaries that come with facing Conor Benn at the moment, it appears that Eubank has had a change of heart and that he will instead rematch Liam Smith, who told ID Boxing that the bout would be announced this week.
🚨 #SmithEubankJr2 announced this week?
🔔 Full interview out at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/ZYzdhkpk30
— iD Boxing (@idboxingnews) April 12, 2023
After an array of drama both inside and outside of the ring before Smith’s brutal knockout victory of Eubank back in January, public interest in the rematch is sure to be high, especially if ‘Beefy’ achieves his dream of staging the event at Anfield Stadium with a heap of Merseyside talent on the undercard.
As for Benn, Eubank had been the clear frontrunner for his comeback. It now seems that the other corner will be occupied by Manny Pacquiao, an as yet unnamed American fighter, or Kell Brook, although it’s unlikely Brook will be fighting fit in time for the summer.