Eubank Jr. should focus on Canelo, rather than Benn rematch

LONDON - Not lone did Chris Eubank Jr. settee his festering feud with Conor Benn connected Saturday, helium besides kept up a household tradition.

But present it is clip for Eubank Jr. to determination connected from the rivalry and prosecute a combat versus Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

The Eubank household are present 2-0 (1 draw) successful 1 of boxing's longest and astir celebrated rivalries. Eubank Jr.'s unanimous points win (116-112, 116-112, 116-112) aft a fierce combat follows Chris Eubank Sr's stoppage triumph implicit Conor's dada Nigel for the satellite middleweight rubric successful 1990 and a arguable gully for the satellite ace middleweight rubric 3 years later.

It was besides a blessed infinitesimal for Eubank Jr. to beryllium reunited with his dada aft a caller autumn out. Chris Jr past week lamented astir his dada Chris precocious labelling him 'a disgrace' for smashing an ovum connected Benn astatine a property conference, but successful a astonishment twist Chris Sr arrived astatine the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his lad to spot him aboriginal present an inspired display.

The quality of Chris Sr. was a punch nary america saw coming and it was a immense morale boost for Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs), who went connected to person moments of dominance successful the fight. He withstood Benn's furious assaults and replied with his own, portion his jab was a reliable unit throughout.

In Round 4, Eubank uncorked a belter of a close uppercut that Benn did good to absorb. Just arsenic Chris came done an attritional brushwood to pounce connected a wounded Nigel and unit the stoppage successful Round 9 of their WBO satellite middleweight rubric combat successful 1990, Chris Jr. rebounded from a disorganised Round 10 to predominate the last rounds successful the non-title middleweight bout.

Benn, 28, (23-1, 14 KOs) looked successful occupation successful Round 12 but bravely resisted the onslaught successful his archetypal nonrecreational defeat.

Could this triumph implicit Conor Benn present beryllium arsenic transformational for Chris Jr.'s vocation arsenic Chris Sr's triumph implicit Nigel Benn was for him? Chris Jr, 35, from Brighton, was 1 twelvemonth aged when his dada bushed Nigel successful Birmingham to triumph his archetypal satellite title.

Chris Jr. has yet to triumph a afloat mentation of 1 of the 4 satellite titles, but his triumph implicit Conor should propel him to a satellite rubric changeable aboriginal this year. He is ranked astatine No. 3 with the WBC and IBF satellite governing bodies, whose champions are Janibek Alimkhanuly and Carlos Adames respectively.

However, fixed his occupation astatine making the 160 pounds value limit, it would not beryllium a astonishment to spot Eubank Jr run astatine ace middleweight. He marginally failed to marque the value bounds connected Friday by 0.05 pounds and had to wage a $500,000 (£375,000) penalty.

Eubank Jr. besides had to adhere to a 10 pounds rehydration clause, meaning that helium could not measurement implicit 170 pounds connected Saturday morning. Eubank Jr would beryllium a pugnacious combat for Alimkhanuly but the English combatant mightiness spell successful different absorption now.

Bigger and much lucrative opportunities are connected connection for Eubank Jr. astatine ace middleweight, specified arsenic a changeable astatine boxing's premier attraction Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs), 34, from Mexico.

The WBC-WBA-WBO satellite ace middleweight champion volition look Cuban William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) connected May 3, and if helium wins Canelo volition advancement to instrumentality connected American Terence Crawford connected Sept. 13.

Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season has already discussed the imaginable of Canelo and Eubank Jr. colliding successful 2026, but that timeline allows Eubank Jr. to combat erstwhile much this year.

Benn, who lives successful Essex aft being raised successful Spain and Australia, hinted helium volition enactment astatine middleweight aft the fight, but helium mightiness find amended opportunities to triumph a archetypal satellite rubric down astatine either inferior middleweight oregon welterweight.

Benn began 2025 by calling for a combat versus Mario Barros, the WBC welterweight champion and ranked No 3 with the satellite governing body. It was the champion nighttime of Conor's career, yet it is inactive not capable for him to beryllium considered connected a par with his dad.

Benn (42-5-1, 35 KOs), 61, and Eubank (45-5-2, 23 KOs), 58, who were bizarrely sat beside each different successful Tottenham, were bigger stars successful their time successful the U.K. and besides achieved much successful the ring.

Both won satellite titles astatine middleweight and ace middleweight, portion Conor and Chris Jr. person yet to clasp a afloat satellite rubric betwixt them. Fighting Canelo would elevate Eubank Jr.'s vocation to the highest level yet -- and helium is apt to prioritise that implicit thing other including a rematch with Benn.

Beating Canelo would adjacent eclipse immoderate triumph his begetter managed and a lucrative match-up with the Mexican indispensable beryllium Eubank Jr.'s No. 1 absorption now.