By Pete Strauss: Chris Eubank Jr says he wants Gennadiy Golovkin this year, but he won’t say no to using Kell Brook and or Liam Williams as tune-up level opponents to get him ready for a world title shot.
Williams (23-2-1, 8 KOs) isn’t taking too kindly to Eubank Jr, putting him in a category of only being useful as a tune-up. After hearing Eubank’s comments, Williams said this on social media:
“So.. got Chris EubankJr talking s*** now. [He] finally knows who I am 🙄 Put up or shut the f*** up… let’s get it on!”
Would Williams, 28, be willing to risk his mandatory status with the WBO? He’s in line to challenge WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade, for his belt. If Williams takes on Eubank Jr, he would be risking that spot.
Eubank Jr would gain more by taking on former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook than he would in facing the twice-beaten Williams. However, it depends on what Eubank Jr is looking for in a warm-up opponent.
Williams is a bigger puncher than Brook, and he’d get Eubank Jr ready for the kind of power he would be dealing with against IBF 160-lb Champion. Brook is the more talented fighter, who could push Eubank Jr and give him a better fight.
Brook or Liam Williams as tune-up level opponents
“Yeah, absolutely. It’s no secret that I wanted that fight for years,” said Eubank Jr to IFL TV about a fight between him and Golovkin. “They [Sauerland] are giving me the opportunity to go for him, and that’s a huge thing.
“It’s a win-win; everybody wins. The fans win, and the fighters win. So hopefully, we can get that fight on in 2021,” said Eubank Jr about the match against GGG.
“[Ryota] Murata, yes. I haven’t heard anything about Kell Brook or [Liam] Williams,” said Eubank Jr reacting to what promoter Kalle Sauerland said on Tuesday about wanting to potentially scheduled him to fight Brook, Liam Williams, or Liam Smith.
“I want a warm-up fight. So if they want to throw one of those guys in with me in the next month or so to get me ready for my world title fight, I wouldn’t say no,” said Eubank Jr on him using Kell or Liam as a tune-up opponent.
“I’ve been out of the ring for 13 months. My last fight [Matt Korobov] was only two rounds. I need to shake off a little ring rust.
“So if they want to throw me one of those guys [Brook or Williams] to smack around a little bit, I’d be happy to do that. But the main goal is to fight these world champions.
“Murata has been elevated to WBA Super Champion. I’m WBA interim world champion.
“So that’s a fight that makes sense, and it’s a fight that I would definitely win that I want this year. So it’s all on the Sauerland brothers to produce the names they’ve given me, and I’m sure they will.
“Absolutely, what else would I look at them as?” said Eubank Jr when asked if he views Liam Williams and Kell Brook strictly as ‘tune-up’ level fights for him. “They’re great opponents for me as a warm-up,” said Eubank Jr.
Kalle Sauerland, the new promoter for Eubank Jr, is the one that brought up the idea of him facing Kell Brook, Liam Williams, or Liam Smith as tune-up fights. It’s not as if Eubank Jr singled out those guys.
Eubank Jr doubts Saunders rematch happens
“It’s a possibility every year, but is it something I’m banking on or working for? No,” said Eubank Jr about whether he’s hoping to face Billy Joe Saunders in a rematch in 2021.
“I’m campaigning at 160, middleweight, and the only name I would jump up to fight at 168 is Canelo.
“If they put a deal together, and I’ve been saying this for years. If they put a deal together and it makes sense, then I’ll take the fight, but I don’t see it happening.
“There are a lot of big names in the middleweight division and a lot of belts to be taken. So that’s where I’m at, and I cannot wait.
“Who else would I go up to fight? Yes, you talk about Saunders every time we speak, but my goal is to become a middleweight world champion.
“That’s going to happen this year, and then after that, I don’t need to go up to fight Saunders. He needs to come down to fight me.
“I don’t need him. He needs me. I’m the only one people want to see him fight, so if he would come down.
“But if I don’t have a world title and they offer me to come up to 168, that’s different. But I don’t see that [Saunders fight] happening.
“Eddie [Hearn] hasn’t been in touch with me about it. If they wanted that fight, they would have said something by now.
“So, in my opinion, they don’t want it. So I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I hope for the day when it won’t have to be repeated, and I can put it all behind me.
“But I understand. Until that time comes, it’s always going to be a topic that is spoken on,” Eubank Jr said.
It’s been seven years since Eubank Jr lost a 12 round split decision to Saunders in 2014. If there were ever going to be a rematch between them, it would have happened long ago.
Chris to fight in two to three months
“It depends on who I fight,” said Eubank Jr about his first fight with the Sauerland’s possibly taking place in the UK. “A lot of the middleweight champions fight in America.
“So would they bring those fights over to England, or would they keep them in America? That’s something I don’t know.
“It’s up to them to decide. I can fight anywhere. I’m happy to fight in America. I want to fight in America really because I’ve done so much in England that I kind of want to be exposed to a new audience.
“I feel like a new fire has been lit, and that is due to the time that I’ve spent with Roy [Jones Jr],” said Eubank Jr.
“Are you going to see a completely different fighter? No, I’m 31-years-old. I can’t just change who I am. But are you going to see a new and improved Chris Eubank Jr?
“Yes, absolutely. The things I’ve been working on and the mindset that is now part of my boxing style. It’s bigger and better than ever, and I’m very excited to get in the ring and show it off.
“I will be back inside the ring in the next two to three months, so stay tuned for 2021; it’s going to be massive,” said Eubank about his next fight.
If Sauerland uses Brook, Williams, or Liam Smith as a tune-up for Eubank Jr, they’re going to have to negotiate the fight right now. They can’t afford to wait one or two months before they contract those fighters’ promoters.
Billy Joe doesn’t want Canelo, says Eubank Jr.
“Saunders isn’t looking at Canelo; let’s be serious for a minute,” said Eubank Jr in doubting that Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez in 2021.
“Saunders isn’t looking anywhere near Canelo. It’s not about thinking; it’s about knowing. They [Team Canelo] offered the fight, and he [Saunders] turned it down.
“He said he wanted 10 weeks or whatever he said to get ready. He said eight weeks wasn’t enough or something.
“Yeah, he doesn’t want the fight,” said Eubank Jr when reminded that Billy Joe pulled himself out of the fight with Canelo because he wanted a full 10-week camp.
It did seem a little odd how Saunders chose not to fight with Canelo because he wasn’t happy with the eight weeks of training time.
But it’s understandable why Saunders chose not to take the fight. He was overweight, and he needed more time to trim off all weight that he’d put on during the pandemic.
Saunders appears to want the fight with Canelo in May, but we’ll see what happens when it comes time to negotiate the match.
Sauerland made Eubank an offer he couldn’t refuse
“They have a lot of fighters under their banner, and especially during COVID, it’s impossible for them to give them the attention they need,” said Eubank Jr about PBC.
“So I was in the position where I didn’t know when I was fighting, and a lot of stuff was going on.
“The Sauerland brothers said, ‘We want to put a lot behind you and get you going. We’ve got these names, we’ve got these numbers, we’ve got this plan, this route, what do you think?’
“It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I’m very happy to be with team Sauerland to see what they can deliver over the next two years.
“There’s a reason why I changed promotional companies. They weren’t able to give me what I was asking.
“[Jermall] Charlo is a name that the Sauerland brothers put to me as part of the deal,” said Eubank Jr.
“All the guys that have belts in the middleweight division are on the hit list, and they’re on the radar.
“That fight [Jermall Charlo] can definitely be made, and it’s one that a lot of fans are calling for. So yeah, Charlo is definitely a name that I’ll be fighting in the next year or two,” said Eubank Jr about a future opponent he has his eyes on.
Eubank Jr was given a long-term contract with Sauerland, and they’re expected to put together some great fights for him.