Chris Eubank Jr's next fight will be for a world title insists Ben Shalom, unless he's facing one of five names including Canelo Alvarez

04/09/2024 14:49

Ben Shalom has provided talkSPORT with an update on Chris Eubank Jr’s future plans.

‘Next Gen’ returns to the ring on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia against Kamil Szeremeta following a 13-month hiatus from the sport

Eubank Jr‘s career has stagnated since he avenged his defeat to Liam Smith in September last year.

But after parting company with long-time promoter Wasserman Boxing and joining forces with Shalom’s BOXXER, the 34-year-old is gearing up for an active future.

Providing everything goes to plan against Szeremeta, Shalom insists Eubank Jr will fight for a middleweight world title, although five names could divert those plans.

Speaking to talkSPORT’s talkBOXING podcast, Shalom said: “Unless he’s going to get one of the biggest names that we have talked about, whether it is Canelo, whether it is [Terence] Crawford, whether it is Ben [Whittaker], whether it is Billy Joe Saunders… or Conor Benn…

“He has to fight for a world title in his next fight and I completely agree.

“And we will do absolutely everything to make that happen so unless it is one of the big names where it is ridiculous money, because that is what comes with Chris Eubank Jr, then it has to be a world title.”

The middleweight world titles could well become fragmented soon, with WBO and IBF champion Janibek Alimkhanuly’s future in the division in doubt.

Janibek is very big for 160lbs and fainted while cutting weight ahead of a title defence against Andrei Mikhailovich in July, leading to the fight being cancelled.

Elsewhere in the weight class, Erislandy Lara is the WBA champion and will make the second defence of his world title against Danny Garcia on September 14.

Meanwhile, Carlos Adames was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full WBC world champion in May after Jermall Charlo was stripped of the green and gold strap due to a DWI arrest.

“You would expect those titles to become vacant but we’ve also been in talks with Erislandy Lara, which is a fight we fancy as well,” Shalom added.

“Chris has said to me ‘I want a world title’, yes he has got his names but he wants a world title.

“Was it going to be his first fight back after a year? No.

“So I’m saying now if it’s not one of the big names then it has to be a world title next.”

The most likely non-title fight for Eubank Jr is a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders, who recently told talkSPORT that there have been 'heavy talks' between both parties over the last few weeks.

Saunders handed Eubank Jr the first defeat of his professional career in 2014 via split decision but hasn’t fought since 2021.