Chris Eubank Jr is hopeful that public demand will eventually lead to a sought-after rematch with world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders.
The only blemish on Eubank’s record remains a split decision loss to Saunders – a former Olympian – when the pair met in November 2014 with the European, British, and Commonwealth belts on the line.
It was a fight that was supposed to end a bitter and fiery rivalry, but such a closely fought encounter only led to calls for an immediate rematch – calls that almost two years on have yet to be answered.
While Saunders has become a world champion, Eubank Jr has since won and defended both the interim world title and the British championship, seeing his stock rise considerably in the process.
Despite then coming close to a fight with unified middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin before the Kazakh opted to face Kell Brook, Eubank Jr – who will next defend his British title against Tommy Langford – is still confident of becoming a world champion sooner rather than later.
Chris Eubank Jr
Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News, Eubank Jr. said: “Firstly, it’s a great time in boxing at the minute, and Britain is at an all-time high. You can compare it to the days when my father was fighting, the levels we are talking about. It is great to be a part of this movement.
“I am very confident that I will be world champion within the next year, and I know my time is now. I’m here and ready and am in my prime, and there are so many great potential fights for me.
“I wanted the Golovkin fight, and that one will happen soon enough – I’m sure of it. Then there is the Saunders fight that will never leave me and will always be in my head. I need to avenge that loss.
“It is a fight that the public continuously demands every day, so I do not doubt it will eventually happen. It’s just about getting things right between team Eubank and Frank Warren. It has proved tough in the past, but eventually, something will give, and the fight will happen.”
Brighton’s 26-year-old has regularly stated his intentions to win the British belt outright and is two defenses away from successfully doing so.
With mandatory challenger Langford set to be the next opponent, should Eubank come through that, a fight with Martin Murray – who is confident of returning to his favored middleweight limit – could be his final defense.
Martin Murray
“A fight against Murray would be very, very exciting. It is a fight again that the public has expressed a lot of interest in, and I’m ready to fight.
“It’s a big domestic fight and just one of the options that are there for me. You can look at Murray and Saunders or move up to face Degale. Then on the world scene, you’ve got Golovkin or Canelo – the names are certainly out there for me.
“All I need to do is to stay focused in the gym, keep my head down, and forget about the haters. I will concentrate on what I know to be right, pleasing the fans, and will continue to get wins underneath my belt.”
