Chris Eubank Jr appears to be fully focused on Conor Benn this weekend , but when his head hits the pillow most nights, bigger obstacles will surely occupy his mind.
Observing the build-up to this fascinating grudge clash, Eubank Jr, according to boxing’s most studious followers, is on the final lap of a lengthy race that has seen him stumble at multiple points, but a respectable finish is still possible.
This weekend, live on DAZN PPV, Chris Eubank Jr, despite competing in the past for world titles and fighting in America, partakes in the biggest fight of his career. The outcome will have a major impact on what comes next.
For Eubank Jr, the losses to Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves, and Liam Smith , are probably events he cannot recall. His mind is fully occupied of disposing of Benn and then launching another assault on the leading names at middleweight and the division above.
In 2016, Eubank Jr was moments away from welcoming Gennadiy Golovkin to the O2 Arena in London before outlandish demands from his father, Chris Sr, forced the contest to become a non-starter. Kell Brook got the nod to face the menacing Kazakh instead.
Standing across the ring from fighters the calibre of Golovkin has seemingly been the desire of Eubank Jr since turning professional.
But defeats at crucial times, interference from others, and an eagerness to pursue events rather than serious challenges have sometimes held the Brighton man back.
Make no mistake about it, Eubank Jr is a world level fighter. Slender setbacks against Saunders and Groves saw him conceding experience and size respectively, and his brutal demise at the hands of Smith, a former world champion, was avenged in an immediate rematch.
But despite attaching this logic to Eubank’s worst moment, boxing is a harsh sport, with even harsher critics, and if Eubank Jr finishes his career without a world title win, then he will go down as one of the best fighters from these shores, like Herol Graham and Michael Watson before him, to finish his time in boxing without reaching the pinnacle.
Will victory over Benn change that?
Perhaps in the eyes of those closest to Eubank Jr. But in an ideal world, with competitive juices still flowing through him, Eubank Jr should ideally be using this fight to provide a chilling reminder of just how good he is and also to send a warning to the fighters sitting in positions above him.
Would Eubank Jr be backed to defeat Carlos Adames or William Scull?
Some in the boxing community would be very confident the former IBO ruler could finally have another strap around his waist, and these fighters owning such privileged spots in the sport should irk Eubank Jr frequently.
Eubank Jr has made it clear that Canelo Alvarez is a major target and his promoter, Ben Shalom, has also been vocal about landing a showdown with the Mexican icon for his man.
That contest can only become a reality if Eubank Jr is dominant against Benn, and if not, then the previous scrutiny on Eubank Jr’s career, the nearly man, the man who always falls short, will contain much more weight.
A lofty purse, a congested stadium, and a huge PPV audience will convince Eubank Jr he is still a major draw and huge name this weekend, and if that is what motivates him in his fourteenth year as a professional then so be it. That happens.
But what happens in the fight can go a long way to how he will be remembered?
Losing to an unproven welterweight, whose best wins have come against faded veterans will be all the ammunition that Eubank Jr cynics require to be even more scathing in their career eulogies.
Some of those assessments will be deserved, but if Eubank Jr produces the magic, he is capable of, further window of opportunities will exist for him to finally rid himself of the underachiever tag that currently grips him.
Watch three incredible fight nights in one week only on DAZN
Fight fans are in for a treat at the end of April / start of May, with three amazing fight cards within seven days - and DAZN PPV is the only place to watch them all.
- April 26: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
- May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
- May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
Arch rivals Eubank Jr and Benn finally go head-to-head to start the exhilarating week, with PPV prices at £19.95 in the UK; $24.99 in the US; €24.99 in Europe.
Garcia vs. Romero and Canelo vs. Scull fight nights follow, which will both be exclusively on DAZN. Fight fans can purchase either fight individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; ROW - $24.99 per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fights can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 in the UK and €34.99 in Europe .