Eubank Jr. Slams His Promoter, Wants A Unification Title Opportunity
Chris Eubank Jr. has reacted to reports linking him with a fight against the IBO middleweight champion Etinosa Oliha.
Eubank Jr.’s next fight remains a mystery after reports that the Conor Benn fight will not be going ahead. Benn failed two VADA tests for Clomiphene, which was the reason why the 157-pound catchweight fight was pulled. Benn denied that he had done any wrongdoing as he pleaded his innocence.
UKAD suspended the boxer in April, after which the National Anti-Doping Agency removed the suspension. There were reports that Benn’s defense was based on jurisdiction, the idea that UKAD could not enforce VADA findings. The lifting of the suspension meant Benn could fight outside of the UK.
He did so with a win over Rodolfo Orozco. UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control have appealed the suspension being removed. Therefore, he cannot box in the UK until Benn clears his name in front of the Board. That meant the Benn fight ended, with Oliha being lined up instead.
Eubank Jr. Vs. Benn
“The Conor Benn discussions – unfortunately – have ended. That fight commercially couldn’t be made and yesterday the IBO have ordered their mandatory. A very tough 19-0 knockout specialist champion so we’ll be negotiating that now. I can just put it down to commercial reasons. I’m not gonna go into too much detail.
“I think the IBO is a belt that he’s worn in the past and it’s a belt he’s had many big fights with and it is what it is. It’s about getting into those big fights, it’s a tough challenge, it’s a champion who is 19-0, undefeated, a big knockout boxer. So, ultimately we’ll see what happens with those negotiations. It’s been mandated so we’ve got to work out does that go to a purse bid or do we find a deal with them?” Sauerland stated
Those comments did not sit well with Eubank Jr. since the boxer had another plan. The boxer indicated he was in line to face the IBF and WBO middleweight champion, Janibek Alimkhanuly. A win over Alimkhanuly would put him in line for a significant unification fight, putting Eubank on the cusp of boxing greatness in the middleweight division. At 33, Eubank is entering the latter part of his career. As such, he was understandably frustrated as Alimkhanuly questioned his heart.
Eubank Jr. Responds
“I went to sleep after agreeing to fight Janibek for world titles. I woke up, and now my promoter is trying to make me fight Etinosa Oliha. He’s a boxer nobody has heard of. How and why?” Eubank Jr.
“I don’t see Eubank Jr as a good fighter. If he’s running from me, it means he’s in a lower position than Gualtieri [the IBF champion he defeated] because he’s a champion and he came to fight with me. So, I have more respect for my opponent. But if fighters are running from me, it means they are in a lower position,” Alimkhanuly stated
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