Trainer Stephen Edwards is confident that unbeaten welterweight champion Terence Crawford will defeat middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. if, as rumored, that fight happens.
It’s believed that Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) could move up two divisions to 160 to take on #2 WBO and #3 WBC contender Eubank Jr. (33-3, 24 KOs) to position himself for a mega-retirement payday against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez in September.
Eubank Jr. shares the same trainer as the 36-year-old Crawford, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, and the two fighters are well-familiar with each other. This would be a fight where both guys would gain from the fight.
Crawford would get the fight he needs at 160 to justify that he deserves a shot at Canelo, whereas Eubank Jr. would get a nice payday in a fight he would likely lose badly.
It would be disappointing for Crawford to choose Eubank Jr. as his opponent if he moves up to 160 rather than one of the talented fighters in the weight class, like Janibek Alimkhanuly or Hamzah Sheeraz. Those two stand head and shoulders above the rest of the fighters in the weak division.
Edwards Cites Crawford’s Superior Skill
“I’d pick Crawford to beat Canelo. So, I’m very comfortable with him beating Eubank,” said trainer Stephen Edwards to Fighthype, leaning towards Terence Crawford defeating middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. if they fight next.
Many boxing fans view the 34-year-old Eubank Jr. as being on the downside of his 13-year pro career, as Liam Smith recently knocked him out in 2023.
Although Eubank Jr. did avenge the defeat against the weight-drained Smith, the victory didn’t erase the doubts about his lack of ability to compete against the top middleweights like Janibek Alimkhanuly and Hamzah Sheeraz.
Some view Eubank Jr. as a fighter who has hustled fights against largely beatable opposition in the UK throughout his career, taking advantage of his famous father’s name to earn a good living.
History of Lackluster Performances
“Eubank doesn’t know enough, and his boxing skills aren’t high enough,” Edwards continued. “I watched him get outboxed by Billy Joe Saunders. Matt Korobov was outboxing him before he got injured. George Groves outboxed him. Those guys are bigger than him [Crawford], but his level of skills are past them.
“He shouldn’t have too many problems with Eubank,” said Edwards about Crawford. “I like Bud to win the fight.”