Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell has hit back at Chris Eubank for labelling him ‘bland’ and pouring scorn on his reign as British middleweight champion.
Chris Eubank Jr
Chris Eubank Jr. challenges Nick Blackwell for British 160lb title on 3/26
By Scott Gilfoid: #2 WBA Chris Eubank Jr. (21-1, 16 KOs) will be taking his career backwards a couple of steps on March 26 when he challenges British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KOs) at the Wembley Arena in London, UK. It is an unusual move for Eubank Jr. to be challenging for the British 160lb title, given that he recently defeated Gary O’Sullivan by a 7th round stoppage last December in a WBA middleweight title eliminator match.
Instead of facing Blackwell, Eubank Jr. could be challenging WBA “regular” champion Daniel Jacobs for his title. The fact that Eubank Jr. is pushing hard to make that fight happen suggests that there could be come confidence issues going on with him.
Blackwell vs Eubank Jr on March 26 at The SSE Arena, Wembley, LIVE on Channel 5
Trowbridge star Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell will defend his British middleweight championship against number one-ranked contender Chris Eubank Jr. on March 26 at The SSE Arena, Wembley, LIVE on Channel 5.
Chris Eubank Jr. to face Nick Blackwell on March 5
By Scott Gilfoid: In what has to be construed as an odd backwards move for his career, once beaten #2 WBA middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. (21-1, 16 KOs) will be slamming his career into reverse gear when he faces British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KOs) on March 5 in Kent.
It’s a very strange move by the 26-year-old Eubank Jr. because he recently became the WBA mandatory challenger to WBA “regular” 160lb champion Daniel Jacobs last December when he beat Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan by a 7th round stoppage. The logical move for Eubank Jr. from there would be either to challenge Jacobs for his WBA title or at least take on one of the top contenders in the division. The fact that Eubank Jr. is choosing to face Blackwell instead of Jacobs is a very curious one. Eubank Jr. wasted his time in becoming the WBA mandatory because he’s not taking advantage of it right now.
Instead, Eubank Jr. has slipped his career into full reverse and is gunning it going backwards to face a guy that he should have been fighting years ago instead of now. All I can think of when I see a fight like this is maybe Eubank Jr. has confidence issues or a problem with his ambition. I don’t know what else to think about when I see a guy taking his career backwards in the manner that Eubank Jr. is.
Golovkin could face Eubank Jr, DeGale or Saunders in UK
By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and his promoter Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions have reportedly started negotiations to fight at West Ham’s Stadium in the UK against one of the following British fighters: James DeGale, Billy Joe Saunders or Chris Eubank Jr.
Just which one of the three will get the fight is unknown. Of the three, DeGale has appeared to be the most willing to fight Golovkin. Eubank Jr. and his father Chris Eubank Sr. have talked in recently about wanting to take the fight with Golovkin within a year and a half.
Golovkin’s trip to UK could mean Saunders or Eubank Jr. fight
By Dan Ambrose: Last weekend, IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin traveled to the UK with his promoter Tom Loeffler to watch a football game at West Ham.
While it might not have been a big deal if Golovkin had taken the trip alone or with family members, it was a little peculiar that he went over there with his promoter Loeffler. This has more than a few boxing fans speculating that the reason for Golovkin’s visit to the UK was to line up a fight with either WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders, who Golovkin was previously in negotiations with for a unfiicaiton fight, or a fight against #1 WBA Chris Eubank Jr.
Either of those fights would be excellent match-ups for Golovkin’s next fight on April 23 on HBO. Eubank Jr. has already said that he sees flaws in Golovkin’s game that he thinks he can exploit. It would be arguably better for Eubank Jr. to take the fight with Golovkin now rather than face WBA “regular” champion Daniel Jacobs, who Eubank Jr. is the mandatory challenger for.
If Golovkin fights Saunders, it would likely take place in an outdoor stadium. This is why a trip to the UK would be a smart thing for Loeffler and Golovkin to do, because it would give them the chance to scout out the different stadiums and meet up with the British promoters for one of these two fighters.
Eubank Jr. leaves Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable
By Scott Gilfoid: After having just recently signed with promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport stable, #1 WBA 160lb contender Chris Eubank Jr. (21-1, 16 KOs) has reportedly left Hearn’s promotional company. Eubank Jr. fought only twice with Hearn’s stable in beating two over-matched fodder opponents in Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan and Tony Jeter. Eubank Jr. was supposed to fight a third fight with Hearn’s stable, but that’s not going to happen now.
Apparently, the issue over Eubank Jr. leaving Hearn’s stable of fighters is because he was outbid in a purse bid by the promoter for Nick Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KOs), Mick Hennessy. Hearn reportedly bid £205,000. It’s unclear why Hearn didn’t win the bid.
Hearn thinks Eubank Jr. has the chance to accomplish big things
By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Barry Hearn thinks #1 WBA middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. (21-1, 16 KOs) has a chance to create big things with his pro career. Hearn believes that the 26-year-old Eubank Jr. has the potential to surpass his famous father Chris Eubank Sr’s career if things work well for him. Eubank Sr. was involved with 19 world title fights in his career.
Whether Eubank Jr. succeeds or not at the upper level of the 160lb division starts next year, when he faces WBA “regular” middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) for his world tile. Eubank Jr. earned the right to fight Jacobs last Saturday when he beat Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan by a 7th round knockout in a WBA World middleweight title eliminator.
‘You want to put Eubank Jr with Golovkin or Jacobs? I don’t think so’ – Warren
By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Frank Warren doesn’t see #1 WBA Chris Eubank Jr. (21-1, 16 KOs), in his present form, as being ready to fight the likes of WBA “regular” champion Daniel Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) or IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs). Warren questions Eubank Jr’s defensive skills or lack thereof, and his lack of huge punching power. Those areas would be real problems for Eubank Jr. in a fight against the likes of Jacobs and Golovkin.
Eubank Jr. earned the right to face Jacobs next with a 7th round stoppage win over Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (22-2, 15 KOs) last Saturday night in an WBA eliminator bout. It was a good performance from Eubank Jr., as he shined in beating O’Sullivan. Eubank Jr. had little problems pounding out a stoppage against the limited O’Sullivan.
Chris Eubank Jnr sealed with a kiss
By John Spandley: Saturday nights show at the O2 arena promised fireworks on many fronts with a talented and stacked undercard and fireworks we sure had.
The whole show from start to finish was pure boxing gold and value for money the British public have seldom seen when spending there hard earned money on a PPV event. I must admit I was one of the sceptic’s that was far from happy to pay for an event with no world titles up for grabs. For that I stand corrected and take my hat off to matchroom for a very well matched card.
We witnessed the “The Bomber” Bellew clinch the European title with a gritty hard fought victory over a game and talented but under rated fighter that is Masternak. Both men fought hammer and tongs in this fight and it proved that the Liverpudlian just had more in his locker when it came to skill set.