Making Canelo Alvarez Fight His Endgame, Chris Eubank Jr. Reveals Why Billy Joe Saunders Is His Arch Nemesis in Terence Crawford Fight Update

In just ten days, Chris Eubank Jr. will celebrate his 35th birthday. The Las Vegas-based boxer finds himself at a critical juncture in his career, where decisions must be made. Already, it’s been nearly a year since he stepped into the ring. To invigorate his career, the ‘Next Gen’ first decided to address the matter outside of it. He parted ways with long-time promoters Wasserman and signed with Ben Shalom’s BOXXER.

The new partnership stuck its first coin with a fight on the Artur Beterbiev–Dmitry Bivol card. Chris Eubank will face Kamil Szeremeta on October 12. But Eubank Jr. seems to have fixed his sights way beyond the match. His ambition now includes fights against some of the biggest names in boxing. Chris Eubank‘s son shared a ‘hit list’. But he also ensured to accommodate a little space to settle some old scores as well. Rivalries that have now become a staple in British boxing.

In an interview, Chris Eubank Jr. shared the names of boxers he hopes to face in the near future. Quite understandably, it began with Conor Benn. As most fans know, the duo’s rivalry goes back to the days when their fathers clashed in the ring. They were all set for a clash in late 2022. But ‘The Destroyer’s controversy surrounding banned substances derailed those plans.

The next one is genuinely interesting. The conflict perhaps goes back much farther than the one Eubank Jr. shares with Conor Benn. It’s been nearly a decade since the ‘Next Gen’ and Billy Joe Saunders fought. The bout for the European, British, and Commonwealth middleweight titles ended in Saunders’ favor by a split decision. The tension between the two has remained on the boil.

Speaking about the fight with his ‘arch nemesis’, Eubank Jr. said, “I don’t feel personal towards many people; Saunders is one of those guys where it’s personal, you know. It’s been so long, so it’s something that has to be dealt with, and I think it will be dealt with within the next 6 to 12 months, and I’m excited for that.”

The third name might have surprised some fans. It was Terence Crawford. Chris Eubank Jr. would preferably like to see a clash taking place by next year. But first, is the fight possible? Crawford made his debut in the light middleweight division last month. So considering the fact that Eubank Jr. primarily fights at 160 pounds, the fight could be made in a strict sense. More so, given that ‘Bud’ himself eyes a potential clash with Canelo Alvarez, a showdown against Eubank Jr. might serve as a timely tune-up.

As it always happens, Chris Eubank Jr. saved the best for last. It is the go-to fight for all the middleweight boxers. A head-to-head against Alvarez. “Canelo is the marquee name in the sport of boxing,” said the ‘Next Gen’. However, he made it clear that the primary reason he would love a fight against the superstar would be to test his skills. It will not be for a ‘payday, fame, or anything else’. Given Alvarez begins his yearly campaign with the Cinco de Mayo, Chris Eubank Jr. seems to be targeting the date for his next outing.

Chris Eubank Jr.: A few more variables

Given the current layout of the middleweight division, his new promoter highlighted that there are high chances of Chris Eubank Jr. going for a title fight unless a fight with either of the 4-5 names in the ‘hit list’ materializes. Following his fainting before the title defense against Andrei Mikhailovich, unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly‘s future in the division appears uncertain. Then, on the other hand, WBA champion Erislandy Lara would face Danny Garcia this weekend. So the 160-pound weight class has kind of opened up.

Given it’s nearly 6 years since Chris Eubank Jr. had any title, it makes sense to first claim a shot at a belt. Then perhaps he could chase any of the big names he wants to fight in the near future.

Which fight, in your view, appears to be the most feasible or makeable one for Chris Eubank Jr.?