Chris Eubank Jr eyes Canelo Alvarez super-fight following Conor Benn clash

Chris Eubank Jr has Canelo Alvarez in his sights, but must first settle his bitter feud with Conor Benn 26th April.

35 years on from their fathers’ thrilling first battle, the second-generation fighters meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to settle which man, and which family, is superior.

The pair were initially scheduled to meet in October 2022, but the bout fell through on fight week after Benn tested positive for the prohibited substance clomifene.

In the intervening years, ‘The Destroyer’ has protested his innocence, while Eubank Jr. has made no attempt to conceal the fact he believes his rival is a cheat.

Benn was cleared to box in Great Britain in November last year, at which point the grudge match was remade.

With multi-generational bad feeling tied up in the fight, it promises to be a cracker.

Canelo next for Eubank Jr?

While high-profile bouts often lead to rematches, if he is victorious Eubank Jr. is looking to move on from the rivalry, with unified super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez his primary target.

“I do think that is the next logical fight,” the 35-year-old said to Ariel Helwani on the prospect of facing the Mexican phenom. “This fight, Turki (Alalshikh) is saying can put me in a position to get in the ring with Canelo, which would be amazing.”

The Brighton boxer’s own father believes his son needs the Canelo fight to enhance his legacy and, pivotally, Alalshikh is on board with the bout, as he would be the man providing the funding for such a battle.

Eubank Sr. has a valid point, as for all of Junior’s talent he has never secured a world title from one of the four major sanctioning bodies over the course of his 14-year career.

Eubank Jr has held the lightly-regarded IBO belt at both middleweight and super-middleweight, but a legitimate version has eluded him.

In his only world title tilt, he was found wanting against George Groves in the semi-final of the super-middleweight World Boxing Super Series.

WBC, WBA and WBO king Canelo has the opportunity to once again become the undisputed ruler of the 168lbs division when he takes on IBF titlist William Scull, on 3rd May.

Given that Canelo is a heavy favourite in that fight, any future clash between the Mexican and Eubank Jr would likely be for all the marbles.

Victory for Eubank Jr would send shockwaves through the sport and undoubtedly mark his finest hour as a boxer.

James Wilson

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