Chris Eubank Jr. will get a golden opportunity against Kamil Szeremeta on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol undisputed clash in Riyadh on October 12. They will be battling it out to clinch the vacant IBO Middleweight championship. After defeating Liam Smith last year in a rematch, this is the perfect chance for ‘The Next Gen’ to announce his comeback to the biggest stage.

The IBO title fight will put him back into the title conversation. After working tirelessly for 12 years and 36 bouts into his professional career, the Brighton resident finally has the opportunity to get out of his father Chris Eubank’s shadow, and this time he might hold on to the fame. So far, his resilience has defined his career and his never-die attitude has allowed him to compete for so long, and he will bring that against Szeremeta as well. Ahead of the prized fight, let’s take a look at Eubank Jr.’s upbringing, which played a crucial role in making him the fighter he is today.

What is Chris Eubank Jr.’s religion?

‘The Next Gen’ has rarely talked about his personal beliefs or has mentioned his religion in public and wants his work inside the ring to be the talking point. This is a complete contrast to his father, Chris Eubank Sr who was very vocal about his religious practices and beliefs, especially toward the latter part of his career. However, he is a Muslim, despite not being an active practitioner of the religion. During the recent face-off against Szeremeta in Riyadh, Eubank Jr was seen proudly donning a thawb, a bisht (robe), and a keffiyeh, a traditional attire of Saudi Arabian men.

Chris Eubank Sr attends the BT Sport Industry Awards 2018 at Battersea Evolution in London. APRIL 26th 2018 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY SMOx181265The Eubank surname is a toponymic name, which implies that it is derived from a geographical feature rather than any religious belief. The name originates from Old English words “yew”(yew tree) and “bank”(hill or ridge). According to various historical sources, the Yew tree represents concepts like immortality, death, and rebirth. It serves as a powerful reminder that in the cycle of nature where our body dissolves but the soul always remains.

The surname has a British and Irish origin and with the Yew tree closely associated with Christianity since old times. Thus Eubank Sr. was born a Christian.

When did Chris Eubank Sr. convert to Islam?

The 58-year-old retired boxer converted to Islam in the latter part of his career during the 90s. The conversion to Islam helped him massively in maintaining his focus on boxing and setting his priorities straight. “It’s all about peace, it’s about inner peace. Islam gave me a sense of balance and discipline that I never had before,” stated Eubank Sr. in one of his interviews with a calm expression on his face while talking about adopting Islam.

These words by ‘Simply The Best’ were proof of how much he values core principles like discipline even after his retirement. But when it was hard to find once he left boxing, Islam helped him with that and allowed him to settle in his new role, far away from action. Maybe this is the reason that his son is also disciplined and relentless in his drive. Returning to his upcoming bout, will Chris Eubank Jr.’s year-long absence from the ring affect his performance, or will his experience and conditioning allow him to dominate Kamil Szeremeta? Let us know your thoughts down below.