Chris Eubank Jr has options but needs to fight!
The always vocal and flamboyant Chris “Next-Gen” Eubank Jr (29-2, 22ko) has not been in the ring since December 7, 2019. Although in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all sporting events. However, with the sport making a comeback, there has not been any news of the British fighter returning to the ring!
Now we do have to keep in mind that towards the end of 2020, the United Kingdom was on lockdown. This prevented the scheduling of sporting events to take place. Conversely, the lockdown has since been lifted.
COMING BACK FROM DEFEAT
Eubank Jr. suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of current WBO super middleweight champion “Superb” Billy Joe Saunders November 2014. The fight was for the BBBoC, Commonwealth, and EBU middleweight titles.
The British fighter would bounce back dominating the UK circuit with an eight-fight win streak. He then captured the IBO super middleweight title defeating Renald Quinlan in February 2017. It is worth noting the IBO championship is not part of being crowned undisputed. However, it is respected as a world title on the European level.
In 2018 the IBO champion entered the World Boxing Super Series tournament. Eubank Jr. scored a viciously knockout over recent Canelo Alvarez victim, Anvi Yildirim in three rounds. The win setup a legit world championship against then WBA champion George Groves in the semi-finals. Eubank Jr. had an abysmal performance and was completely outclassed by the WBA champion.
Next-Gen’s terrible performance was explained when it was revealed that he trains himself!
A MUCH NEEDED CHANGE
In 2019, he turned things around. First, he decided to get a full-time trainer. The move helped him send former IBF champion James Degale into retirement after dominating him en route to a unanimous decision.
Then he closed out the year by going down to middleweight to face Matvey Korobov. He didn’t get enough time to show his talent on the American stage as Korobov suffered a shoulder injury, stopping the fight in the second round. He did in the process pick up the WBA interim title. While holding the interim title and a #1 ranking with the WBA, he has talked about challenging WBC champion Jermall Charlo. Problem is, he has been inactive and is unranked by the WBC at the moment.
PLENTY OF OPTIONS
Recently it has been reported the WBA interim titlist has signed a long-term contract with Sauerland Promotions, and he is now trained by living legend Roy Jones Jr. British promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested making a fight featuring the WBA interim titlist and former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook. Of course, they can revisit a 2016 missed opportunity by challenging IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.
Lastly, as the WBA #1 contender, Eubank Jr. can stake his claim at going after WBA middleweight champion Ryota Murata. This is arguably the move that makes the most sense.
Eubank Jr. needs to make something happen soon. There are plenty of options opened right now and in boxing “out of sight” truly means “out of mind!” So the WBA interim champion needs to make something happen soon!
By: Garrison Bland
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