Chris Eubank Jr: ‘GGG is the #1 name on my list’ after Williams

By Boxing News - 02/03/2022 - Comments

By Barry Holbrook: Chris Eubank Jr. says his plan is to challenge IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin or WBA champion Ryota Murata for his title after he defeats Liam Williams on Saturday night.

(Photo credit: Lawrence Lustig / Boxxer)

Eubank Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs) will be fighting for the third time since teaming up with trainer Roy Jones Jr. a couple of years ago, and he’s hoping to be able to display more of the things that he’s learned under his watch.

The former IBO super middleweight champion Eubank Jr, 32, and Williams (23-3-1,18 KOs) will be headlining Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

A fight against Golovkin may be out of reach for Eubank Jr. this year because he’s got a unification match against Murata he still needs to take care of first.

Once Golovkin gets through that fight, there’s the possibility of a trilogy match against Canelo Alvarez. If not Canelo, Golovkin may face unbeaten highly ranked contender Jaime Munguia on DAZN.

It would be a risky fight for Golovkin to take on Eubank Jr because he’s getting up there in age at 40, and he’s not going to want to mess up a possible big payday trilogy match with Canelo.

Eubank Jr wants Golovkin next

“Animosity, yes. He’s said some things that were unforgivable over the last year,”  said Chris Eubank Kr. to Secondsout bout his fight with Williams. “He said things that mean we can never be okay ever, and that’s very rare.

Image: Chris Eubank Jr: 'GGG is the #1 name on my list' after Williams

“It’s always been just business but with him, he’s made it personal,” said Eubank Jr. “Pretty much in all my fights, nobody has said the things that he said.

“I don’t pick rounds, but I will stop him. The styles that we have, there are going to be too many opportunities for me to take this guy out. He’s too open. His defense is not polished enough, so eventually, I’m going to catch him.

“Yeah, that’s the plan.  It’s been the plan for years, but it’s tough to pin him down,” said Eubank Jr. when asked if he plans on fighting Gennadiy Golovkin next.

“Yes, world titles, big names, GGG is the #1 name on my list. So we’re going to do everything we can to get him.

“That’s another belt that if he vacates, I would love to step in and take that belt,” said Eubank Jr. on the possibility of WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade vacating his title when he goes up to 168.

“I was WBA interim world champion, so I’m really mandatory to fight for that belt. Ryota Murata has that belt. [Jermall] Charlo would be a great fight. The list goes on. There are so many opportunities out there. I just have to pin them down,” Eubank Jr. said.

It’s too bad Eubank Jr. lost out on a fight against Golovkin in 2016 when he had the chance to fight him.

For those that don’t remember, the negotiations between them dragged on a little too long, and Kell Brook was brought in to face Golovkin instead.

Who knows what would have happened had Eubank Jr. fought Golovkin that night?

Chris Jr expects to display a lot

“I’ve only had two fights so far [with new trainer Roy Jones Jr],” Eubank Jr. continued.

“You guys haven’t been able to see everything. The first was 10 rounds with Marcus Morrison. A few rounds with the guy that quit [Wanik Awdijan]. I haven’t been able to display everything that I’ve been working on.

“This fight I feel like I’ll be able to display a lot. Absolutely, I want a big fight in the summer and in the winter. I want to fight three times this year, so I’m going to make a statement.

“I’m going to put myself in the minds of people in the boxing world that this guy wants to fight for a world title. Saunders has been talked about, and it’s always a fight that is going to interest me.

“But he doesn’t have a world title, he doesn’t have anything to offer apart from the grudge match, the beef that we’ve had all these years. Is it a fight that I would take? Yes, of course.

“Is it a fight that is in the forefront of my mind right now? No. But anything can happen. Maybe the fight can happen. We’ll see. My dad [Chris Eubank] will be there [for the fight]. Over the last three years, he’s stepped back a little bit.

“It’s a natural progression, but he’s still heavily involved in my career and still a part of the team. Yes, he’ll be there on Saturday,” said Eubank Jr.

As long as Eubank Jr. doesn’t run out of gas, he’s got a great chance of displaying his full arsenal against the steel-chinned Williams on Saturday night.

But if Chris gasses out in this fight like Demetrius Andrade did against Williams last April,  we could see an upset.

Liam Williams says he’ll outbox Eubank Jr

“I’ve got to make weight tomorrow, refuel, and f*** him up on Saturday,” said Liam Williams to iFL TV. “I think he’s going to get a good lesson. First of all, I’m going to outbox him,  I’m going to make him look stupid, and I’m going to give it to him.

“I’m definitely fired up for this, being in Cardiff in my hometown. When we get inside the ring, I’m hoping to forget that personal side of it because I need to keep cool, stay calm and stick to the plan of what we put in place.

“You’re going to see a big performance on Saturday. I’m definitely ready, I couldn’t be any more ready.

“I just told him what I think of him. He’s a p****,” said Williams when asked what he told Eubank Jr. during the face-off. “I also asked him when he got his coat from because I’m thinking of buying my missus and my mother one.

“He can try and do that,” said Williams when told that Eubank Jr. said he wants to drive him out of the sport. “It’s people like me who make fans that aren’t massive boxing fans get into the sport because they think I’m more interesting. They think he’s arrogant jumped up little P****, and that’s what he is.

“I just picture me boxing his head off and then potentially stopping him. I just keep envisioning myself at the end of the fight with my hand raised. That’s all that matters to me,” said Williams.

It’s difficult to imagine Williams outboxing Eubank Jr. in this fight, as he doesn’t have the hand speed or the boxing skills to do that.

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