Former WBA featherweight champion turned promoter Barry McGuigan believes a fight between Mexican star Canelo Alvarez and Chris Eubank Jr. would provide entertainment while it lasts as well as a good opportunity for both men.
Earlier this month, the ever-confident Eubank (29-2, 22 KOs) put his name forward for a September 14 date with Canelo after old rival Billy Joe Saunders ruled himself out, citing a lack of preparation time. WBO 168lbs champion Saunders had been set to face Canelo in May before Covid-19 stopped boxing and the world in its tracks.
With Canelo and promoters Golden Boy reviewing numerous, probably cost-effective, options for the Mexican’s next fight – including the likes of Jason Quigley, John Ryder and Callum Smith – McGuigan likes the idea of Canelo-Eubank for both men.
Now back at his natural fighting weight of 160lbs, where he holds the lightly-regarded WBA interim title, Eubank would likely have to move back up to 168lbs where he was outslicked by George Groves but overwhelmed a faded James DeGale.
“Canelo would be a great fight for junior. It would be a better match at 160 pounds for Eubank, but it looks like Canelo has settled at super-middleweight and would not want to hand Eubank any advantage,” wrote McGuigan in his column in The Mirror. “Eubank has his old man’s chin and his courage. He can really fight. It is a shame has not won a legitimate title yet.
“Canelo was terrific at [154]. He was not a big middleweight, but he is chunky and has settled at 168, which is where Eubank would have to fight him. Canelo needs a big name and Eubank offers profile. He is a fraction from being a champion. Maybe Canelo is not the best opportunity to realise his dream but it is a dream fight nonetheless.
“Canelo is a master going forward and proficient in retreat,” observed McGuigan. “He shuts down the ring brilliantly, has fast hands and an incredible chin. He has been fighting pretty much all his life and has developed a brilliant radar, an uncanny ability not to get hit square. He avoids the power shots. That is a serious asset in the last rounds of a championship fight. Eubank loves a guy that walks him down. That is why George Groves stood off him in Manchester two years ago.
“Eubank has never really mastered the front foot moves. It is relatively easy to box off the back foot, much more difficult to initiate. You have to learn how to push off the back foot, to shuffle forward behind the jab, get into position to fire. It takes patience, a lot of pad work and sparring. Doing it against a bag is easy. When you have a moving target in front of you, you must learn to move your feet, feint, not get hit with full-blooded shots.
“Eubank relies on his fast hands, granite chin and incredible engine. He has decent power, good body movement but slow feet. At 30, he can still get better but that depends on his willingness to change. At least Canelo will at some point walk him down. But by then it might be too late.”