Chris Eubank Jr is eager for a rematch with Conor Benn in November after plans for a September 20 fight were postponed. Eddie Hearn blamed Eubank Jr for the delay, but the Brighton boxer clarified that he has not withdrawn and simply requires more time to prepare for the rematch following his victory in April.
Despite being obligated to a rematch under the same conditions, Eubank Jr is not avoiding the bout; he just feels he won’t be ready by September. Discussions with Saudi boxing influencer Turki Alalshikh are now underway to potentially schedule the fight for November in either London or the Middle East. Eubank Jr prefers London, and talks with Tottenham Hotspur are ongoing for a revised date, possibly indoors due to weather considerations.
On the other hand, Benn has expressed his intention not to wait and is considering returning to welterweight to pursue a world title, stating that his career cannot be put on hold. He emphasized his commitment to the two-fight deal at middleweight and criticized Eubank Jr for hesitancy, suggesting a move back to welterweight.
In a separate development, Eddie Hearn revealed the possibility of a match between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, despite skepticism due to Paul’s limited boxing experience. Hearn indicated willingness to make the fight happen, acknowledging the significant size and skills gap between the two fighters. Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are set to compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship in July, with fans having the option to watch the fight on DAZN PPV.
Hearn, in talks with Paul’s team, sees the potential bout as a way to keep Joshua occupied while awaiting Tyson Fury’s return. He anticipates both fighters engaging in separate matches before a potential showdown in the future. Hearn emphasized the desire to face Fury but acknowledged the need for other fights before a possible match with Fury in the coming years.