Eubank Jr has won 35 pro fights and lost three, but has never held a recognised world title Harlem Eubank would prefer his cousin, Chris Eubank Jr, to chase a legacy-defining fight against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez rather than revisit his rivalry with Conor Benn. The unbeaten welterweight says if Eubank Jr does fight Benn again, however, the weight discrepancy between the two Britons must be addressed. Eubank Jr outpointed Benn in a grudge match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium inApril, more than two years after their original 2022 bout was cancelled due to Benn's failed drug tests. A two-fight deal was in place, but Harlem is unsure whether a rematch will materialise. "There's obviously a lot of money there for it, so potentially," he told BBC Sport. "But Chris is 35 now and I'd like to see him take the Canelo fight and sail into the sunset. "It's hard, because all the big opportunities come near the end of a career and there's always a fishhook dangling to keep you there, but I'd rather see him take the biggest fight in the sport and bow out." However, any potential clash with Mexican superstar Alvarez would likely have to wait until 2026. The undisputed super-middleweight championwill defend his belts against Terence Crawfordin September. Harlem, 31, also criticised the weight stipulations that surrounded the first fight. Eubank Jr - naturally the bigger man - appeareddrainedduring fight week and was restricted by a rehydration clause which meant neither fighter was allowed to put on more than 10lb from the 11st 6lb limit at the weigh-in. He was fined £375,000 after missing the mark at the first weigh-in by just 0.05lb, before successfully making weight at a second check-in on the morning of the fight. "Weight games should never be appropriate in a sport like boxing," Harlem added. "People can get hurt, people can be legally damaged. Trying to weaken an opponent with rehydration clauses and these types of things should be eradicated from the sport." Benn (right) lost for the first time in 24 pro bouts when he was outpointed by Eubank Jr Eubank Jr's victory over Benn settled a feud more than three decades in the making, sparked by their fathers' famous rivalry in the 1990s. The bout came after Benn's two failed drug tests, which led to a lengthy investigation. Benn has always denied intentionally doping and had his suspension lifted in November 2024. Unbeaten welterweight Harlem, who stopped Tyrone McKenna in March with his cousin and uncle, Chris Eubank Sr, watching on,will challenge Jack Catterallin Manchester on 5 July. Having previously called out Benn himself, Harlem believes former world-title challenger Catterall is on a different level "He [Benn] lost to Jr by a wide margin in an entertaining fight," he said. "I gave him props for going the distance and continuing the battle, but in terms of boxing, my next fight is a whole different level. "Jack has operated at world level for many years and is leaps and bounds ahead of Conor Benn."
'Eubank Jr should fight Canelo and avoid Benn weight games'
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Chris Eubank Jr. Urged to Pursue Canelo Alvarez Fight Over Conor Benn Rematch"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Chris Eubank Jr., a professional boxer with a record of 35 wins and three losses, is advised by his cousin Harlem Eubank to pursue a significant fight against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez rather than revisiting his rivalry with Conor Benn. Harlem expresses concern over the weight issues that surrounded their previous encounter, where Eubank Jr. outpointed Benn after a controversial buildup that saw the fight nearly canceled due to Benn's failed drug tests. Harlem believes that, at 35 years old, Chris should focus on securing a legacy-defining match against Canelo, which would mark a fitting conclusion to his career. However, he acknowledges that any bout with Alvarez may not occur until 2026, especially since Canelo is set to defend his titles against Terence Crawford in September. This potential timeline raises questions about whether Eubank Jr. will be able to capitalize on such an opportunity as he approaches the twilight of his boxing career.
In addition to the call for a fight with Canelo, Harlem Eubank critiques the rehydration clause imposed in the first match against Benn, which limited the weight each fighter could gain after the weigh-in. He argues that these types of weight games can be dangerous and should be eliminated from boxing altogether, as they can compromise a fighter's health and performance. Harlem's perspective is that boxing should prioritize the safety and fairness of its athletes. He also believes that his own upcoming fight against Jack Catterall, scheduled for July 5 in Manchester, represents a higher level of competition than Benn, who recently suffered his first professional defeat against Eubank Jr. Harlem respects Benn's effort in their bout but emphasizes that Catterall has consistently operated at a world-class level, making their upcoming match a significant challenge in his career.
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