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Chris Eubank Jr says Canelo fight is 'next logical step'... but only after Conor Benn

A bitter rivalry takes center stage before a potential mega-clash with boxing's biggest name

Chris Eubank Jr Talks Canelo, But First Plans to Settle the Score with Conor Benn
Chris Eubank Jr Talks Canelo, But First Plans to Settle the Score with Conor Benn(AP Photo/Michael Owens)
Updated

Chris Eubank Jr has a massive fight coming up against Conor Benn on April 26-and he knows exactly what could be waiting for him on the other side: Canelo Alvarez.

The long-delayed grudge match with Benn is finally set to happen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Originally scheduled for October 2022, the fight was scrapped after Benn failed a drug test. Now, after nearly two years of waiting and back-and-forth tension, Eubank Jr gets his shot to settle the score.

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Their fathers-Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn-defined a generation of British boxing in the '90s with a win for Eubank and a dramatic split draw. This next chapter feels like more than a fight; it's a legacy clash.

A win over Benn could be Eubank's passport to the world stage

But while the rivalry with Benn is personal, Eubank Jr's ambitions go far beyond domestic bragging rights. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, he made it clear: a win on April 26 could put him in line for a shot at Canelo Alvarez.

"I do think that is the next logical fight," he said. "Turki [Alalshikh] is saying this could put me in position to get in the ring with Canelo, which would be amazing." Alalshikh, who has become a major player in organizing high-profile bouts out of Saudi Arabia, is reportedly keeping a close eye on Eubank.

Canelo, who defends his titles against Jaime Munguía in May, continues to be the division's biggest star. And while that fight would be massive on the global stage, Eubank believes the Benn matchup actually carries more cultural weight in the UK.

"In the UK, it's probably bigger than a Canelo fight,"he said. "People who don't even follow boxing know about this fight. It's on another level here."

That said, he's not skipping steps. "This fight has to happen first," Eubank emphasized."Then we talk about Canelo. But the idea's already in motion."

If Eubank gets the win on April 26, a new chapter may begin-not just for him, but for British boxing on the world stage.

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