Middleweight prospect Chris Eubank Jr has rebuilt his relationship with Matchroom Boxing and will be providing (probable) chief support on the June 25th Joshua vs Breazeale card. London’s O2 Arena, which also hosted Anthony Joshua’s April demolition of Charles Martin, will once again play host.
Eubank cut ties with Matchroom in early 2016 after the outfit failed to secure a purse bid for Eubank’s British Middleweight title clash with Nick Blackwell. Eubank had to rough it out with a highly motivated champion in Blackwell, but became increasingly dominant en route to a violent, one-sided beat down which ended with Blackwell in a coma. Blackwell has since recovered, but the March encounter will likely always be remembered for its tragic ending.
“It’s great to be back on the Matchroom team and I’m really looking forward to fighting again on Sky,” Chris Eubank Jr told Sky Sports. “Anthony and I make a great British double act, when on the same card, and we guarantee excellent entertainment for our fans. I’m confident that there will be many more victories for both of us in the near future.”
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn is pleased to have Eubank Jr back in his talent-filled stable (which includes Kell Brook, Scott Quigg and Anthony Crolla) and is eyeing bigger nights ahead.
“I’m delighted to agree a new promotional contract with Chris Eubank Jr,” Hearn said. “He is fast becoming one of the biggest star attractions in the sport and I feel we have the perfect platform in Sky Sports to continue that and deliver him the huge fights. It’s a fantastic addition to the June 25 card and just like the last time Junior was there, I’m sure he will light up The O2.”
Conor Benn to Spice Up Bill
Eubank will be joined by Junior Welterweight upstart Conor Benn, who scored his first pro career win in April, on the Joshua vs Breazeale undercard. Eubank Jr and Benn’s famous fathers had major beef and produced two very memorable encounters in the nineties, and so having their sons on the same bill will peak interest for this card among British fans.
Given the weight differential between them, it would seem fairly unlikely that they’d ever meet in the ring, however. Anyway, both sons and fathers will be in the arena and you can count on Sky Sports making a huge deal about it. The coverage could even lead to – cringe warning – Eubank and Benn Sr discussing that way-too-late rematch.
Eubank Jr’s upcoming opponent is yet to be announced, but an upgrade in threat-level would be most welcome (if only to prove Eubank’s No.3 ranking with the WBC is even partially called for). A realistic dream fight would of course be a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders, although it would seem wiser for Eubank to clock up some more experience before taking on such a risk. Eubank suffered a sole career defeat against Saunders in 2014 after being soundly edged by the slick boxer. Saunders went on to outclass WBO Middleweight titlist Andy Lee last December.
Give us your take on the return of Chris Eubank Jr on the Joshua vs Breazeale card, folks. And who would you like to see him in with next? Another domestic-level challenger looking to claim his British title? A jump up to European-level? Or even a crowd-pleasing rematch with Saunders?
