A new name has entered the fray for Canelo Alvarez, as the Mexican star is now tipped to face British star Chris Eubank Jr. later this year. The news was first reported Thursday by ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez.
Rumors had circulated that Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) would defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against either former WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo or undefeated Brooklyn native Edgar Berlanga.
But with Eubank Jr. a free agent and a bankable asset in the UK, this matchup is certainly realistic.
“Chris Eubank Jr. has joined the list of potential opponents for Canelo Alvarez, and is now the favorite to close a deal,” he wrote Rodriguez in a post on social media “He was a world middleweight champion and has a record of 33-3 with 24 KOs. He just knocked out Liam Smith, a former victim of the [Canelo].”
Eubank Jr. never held a legitimate title at 160 pounds and his win over Smith was on points, so some of the message may have been lost in translation.
The 34-year-old has made a lot of money in his career but heavyweight fights have eluded him. The Brighton man pressured Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves in 12-round fights but was outpointed on both occasions.
Has Chris Eubank Jr. ever fought at super middleweight?
In 2017, Eubank Jr. made his super middleweight debut against unknown Renold Quinlan and scored a 10th-round knockout.
Eubank Jr. scored an impressive win over former middleweight champion Arthur Abraham before entering the World Boxing Super Series in the 168-pound weight class. After demolishing Avni Yildirim in three fights, Groves outpointed him.
One of Eubank Jr.’s most memorable wins came at super middleweight when he outpointed former champion James De Gale in 2019. However, he has since returned to middleweight and is 5-1 in his last six fights.
Can Chris Eubank Jr. beat Canelo Alvarez?
Eubank Jr. put on a brilliant boxing display last time out against former conqueror Liam Smith. The Englishman controlled the fight from start to finish, avenging a stoppage loss in 2022 and rekindling his world title ambitions.
Canelo, however, is a completely different proposition and is on a higher level. Eubank Jr. has very little chance of outboxing the Mexican boxer over 12 rounds and even less chance of producing the kind of power needed to knock him out.
The odds would favor Canelo by a wide unanimous decision, which has been the usual outcome lately.
