Chris Eubank Jr.’s Determination to Return
Chris Eubank Jr. is determined to remain in the boxing arena, with aspirations of making a comeback by mid-2026, according to his promoter Ben Shalom in a discussion with ESPN.
Recent Fight and Performance
Eubank Jr. faced Conor Benn recently, suffering a unanimous decision loss. He later described his training experience as having gone through “hell and back”, although he refrained from detailing the specific challenges he encountered.
In their match, both fighters adhered to a stipulation that limited their weight gain after the weigh-in to no more than 170 pounds on the day of the fight. Although Eubank Jr. has previously fought at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds, he expressed that it was not his optimal fighting weight.
Future Prospects
Despite the setback, Eubank Jr. has left open the possibility of continuing his career. Shalom confirmed that the boxer is recovering and expressed that Eubank Jr. appeared to be a shadow of his normal self during the bout, contributing to his lackluster performance where he only threw about 30% of his normal punches. Shalom remarked,
“Anyone can see that wasn’t Chris Eubank Jr. in the ring.”
Recovery is essential; Shalom emphasized that Eubank Jr. wishes to fight again but must first regain his health. Furthermore, Shalom speculated that, should there have been no weight rehydration clause at the fight and Eubank Jr. attain full fitness, a third match against Benn could still be feasible.
Interestingly, Benn himself has stated that he is eager to move down to welterweight to contest for titles in that division, indicating he may not be as interested in a third encounter.
Looking Ahead
However, Shalom remains optimistic and noted,
“There’s a lot of names out there,”
for Eubank Jr.’s potential opponents, though he reassured that no decisions would be rushed until the fighter is fully prepared. He anticipates that Eubank Jr. will be ready to reassess his options by the middle of the upcoming year.
