Eubank Jr vs. Brook possible for summer says Kalle Sauerland

By Boxing News - 03/29/2022 - Comments

By Barry Holbrook: Promoter Kalle Sauerland is hopeful that he can hammer out a fight between middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. and Kell Brook for a summer “blockbuster” clash.

Sauerland, who promotes the former IBO super-middleweight champion  Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23 KOs), thinks a deal can be done if everyone is “sensible” in the negotiations.

Thus far, things aren’t looking bright, partly because of the weight being an obstacle. Eubank Jr. feels he can’t come down below 158 pounds for the catchweight against career-long welterweight Brook (40-3, 28 KOs).

Fighting at 158, isn’t much of a catchweight. If Brook were to agree to that number, he might as well fight Eubank Jr. at the full limit because he right there.

“The question is whether certain issues can be resolved. If everyone is sensible, I can see that happening and I can see it being a big summer blockbuster,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland to Sky Sports. about a fight between Eubank Jr. and Brook.

“I can confirm that we had meetings with Boxxer last week and they are now speaking to Brook,” Sauerland said.

Image: Eubank Jr vs. Brook possible for summer says Kalle Sauerland

Brook had a bad experience the last time he fought at the middleweight limit against IBF/IBO/WBC champion Gennadiy Golovkin on September 10th, 2016, losing by a fifth round TKO at the O2 Arena in London, England.

The fight was stopped in the fifth round by Brook’s trainer Dominic Ingle after he was trapped against the ropes by Golovkin, and taking nonstop withering fire from the champion.

After the contest, Brook required surgery to repair a broken eye socket that he’d sustained duringthe course of the bout. It’s believed that Brook suffered the injury early in the contest, possibly in the second round, and he bravely fought on until his trainer pulled him out in the fifth.

Given the history of what happened to Brook six years ago when he fought at middleweight, it would be a bad idea for him to fight Eubank Jr. at a catchweight of 158-lbs.

155-lb catchweight would make more sense because Brook would be at a tremendous disadvantage in size if he were to agree to face Eubank Jr. at 158.

Nothing has been said about a rehydration clause, but that would be just as important as catchweight. If Eubank Jr. rehydrates into the 180s after making weight, Brook will be up against it on the night in terms of size, and he’s not going to stand much of a chance of winning.

We’re in a positive dialogue and it’s a fight that we would love to get made. But there’s still work to be done. We’re ready. Our terms are known,” said Sauerland on the Brook vs. Eubank Jr. fight.

As long as part of that dialogue involves Eubank Jr. backing off from his stance of requiring the catchweight to be at 158, perhaps an agreement can be made. Again, 155 would seem to be the optimal weight for Brook to be competing at.

Eubank Jr. should be fighting guys from his own weight class at middleweight instead of focusing on trying to battle a past his prime 35-year-old welterweight like Brook.

Despite all the hype about Eubank Jr. earlier in his career, he’s failed to live up to the expectations from boxing fans, facing mostly domestic level opposition during his 11-year professional career.

In the only title shot of his career in February 2018, Eubank Jr lost to George Groves by a 12 round unanimous decision in a failed bid to capture the WBA super-middleweight title in the World Boxing Super Series tournament.

Since that loss, Eubank Jr. has beaten these middle-of-the-road opponents:

  • JJ McDonagh
  • Liam Williams
  • Wanik Awdijan
  • Matt Korobov
  • Marcus Morrison
  • James DeGale – Washed

“He has said a lot of things about me,” said Eubank Jr about Brook. “From a business perspective, I want to fight Brook after this.”

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