CHRIS EUBANK JR is targeting a 2021 showdown with Gennady Golovkin, among others, after signing a promotional deal with Team Sauerland.
“I look forward to the big fights I crave,” said Brighton’s Eubank Jnr, who is currently based in America. “I’ve spent the last 12 months in the gym and I feel better than ever. I’m ready to take over the middleweight division. I want all the champions – [Ryota] Murata, [Jermall] Charlo, [Demetrius] Andrade, Golovkin.
“Put me in the ring with any of them. I only want to fight the best. This is my time. If you have a belt, I’m coming for you.”
The 31-year-old, 29-2 (22), did not fight in 2020 but worked under the guidance of Roy Jones Jnr in Florida as he looked to build on his December 2019 victory over Matt Korobov.
Kalle Sauerland told Boxing News that he expects Eubank’s next outing to take place in the UK.
“Expect him out definitely in the next couple of months,” said Sauerland. “He’s been in full training throughout lockdown. He’s an absolute gym beast and keeps himself in top condition so he’s raring to go. It will be a question of the next couple of months [when he fights], probably March or April, that you will see him in a ring in the UK.”
After that, the target is “GGG”. A Golovkin-Eubank bout fell through in 2017 and Kell Brook stepped in to challenge the Kazakh instead. Sauerland also mentioned Brook, who recently lost to Terence Crawford at welterweight, as a surprising possible opponent for Eubank.
“The Golovkin fight is the be all and end all fight at middleweight,” explained Sauerland. “It’s the fight that makes you a legend and it’s a fight I think Chris would have a fantastic chance in and would be an absolute blockbuster in the UK or the US.
“At the same there’s other great fights to make at middleweight. Obviously Murata is a big name and world champion but also there’s other fights from a UK perspective that could be very interesting. Fights like Liam Williams, he’s a good name, and you might see people coming up and down.
“Of course the Billy Joe Saunders fight. After the terrific first fight they had, it’s something everyone wants to see again. There’s other fights, potentially even Kell Brook who might end up going up to middleweight, so there’s some very interesting fights to be made with UK names as well.”
Sauerland is still gathering plans for Season III of the World Boxing Super Series and though he indicated Eubank could figure should a middleweight competition take place, that is “not currently on the table” for the British fighter.
Eubank was a star of the first season before eventually losing in the semi-finals to George Groves at 168lbs. During the lavish Monte Carlo draw for that tournament, Chris Eubank Snr provided a memorable cameo.
Senior has of course played a huge role in the development of his son, while often stating that Junior would not get tied down to an exclusive deal with any promoter.
Sauerland insists the deal is purely with Eubank Jnr but recognises the value that Senior, a former WBO middleweight and super-middleweight champion, brings to the table.
“Our contract is with Junior,” said the promoter. “It’s a promotional contract. A boxer also has its entourage. In this case it’s family and Senior comes very much together with Junior. He’s an exceptional name. An exceptional boxing icon and someone we as brothers both followed as kids growing up watching him on the famous Big Fight Live. He’s someone who we have a lot of time for and someone who has been there and done it all in the sport.”
The link to Eubank Jnr and the Sauerlands can be traced back to 2012 when Chris fought on a bill in Denmark, stopping Tadas Jonkus in three rounds.
Nisse Sauerland is glad to have at last got their man. “We’ve been long time admirers of Chris,” said Nisse. “He fought on one of our shows back in 2012 and we’ve followed his career closely since then. He’s got all the attributes needed to establish his position as one of the biggest names in world boxing. Our first priority is cleaning out the middleweight division.”