The much-anticipated bout between British middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. and Mexican boxing sensation Canelo Álvarez never took place, as Eubank Jr. revealed in an open interview with *Boxing News*. After months of speculation and rumors, last month’s supposed confrontation never happened. The matter was clarified by Eubank, who had previously expressed his wish to fight a major boxing star, and he explained what had gone wrong.
The son of the late great British boxer Chris Eubank Sr., Eubank Jr. has been considered a major contender in the middleweight class for quite some time. Eubank Jr. was creating headlines in the boxing world with his aggressive fighting style and excellent victories, particularly against James DeGale and George Groves. Many boxing fans considered the matchup with Canelo Álvarez, a highly acclaimed and very successful boxer of his day, to be a dream match.
Finally, Chris Eubank Jr. Explains Why There Was No Canelo Fight: Seconds Out – “I Was Offered It”
Not long ago, Canelo—who had won world titles in a number of different weight categories—made headlines when he transitioned into the light heavyweight division. Canelo was widely considered to be among the sport’s most talented and powerful fighters on a pound-for-pound basis after his years of dominating the middleweight class. Since he and Eubank Jr. were both renowned for their explosive power and ferocious fighting styles, the prospect of a bout between the two combatants sparked immense interest.
But the bout never happened, and spectators were baffled as to why the two combatants never squared up, despite the growing anticipation.
The main reasons why the fight with Canelo Álvarez did not take place were explained by Eubank Jr. in his latest interview with *Boxing News*. While talks were going on, a number of roadblocks caused the bout to be canceled, according to Eubank.
“It’s really annoying, to be honest,” Eubank started, acknowledging the disillusionment felt by some fans who had been anxiously awaiting the fixture. It appeared like we were going to pull it off after our lengthy negotiations with Canelo’s team. Things didn’t line up the way we’d hoped, and there were just too many practical concerns.
British boxer Canelo Alvarez ‘in discussions’ to face unbeaten Chris Eubank Jr., while the American is ‘pole position’ to secure the bout | talkSPORT
According to Eubank, the terms of the fight, including discussions over weight classes, purse divides, and venue, were one of the key causes of contention. It was challenging to find common ground as the two boxers had diverse promotional histories. According to Eubank, Canelo’s entourage had certain requests and expectations that he failed to fulfill.
“We couldn’t reach a consensus on numerous matters,” Eubank declared. A lot of things have to line up when you’re competing against two of the biggest names in the sport. Regrettably, we were unable to resolve all matters in time for the battle to take place last month due to poor timing.
Financial concerns were a key factor in the negotiations breaking down. The team representing Eubank Jr. did not approve of the sum that was offered to him, according to persons familiar with the matter. The financial division for the bout was a major stumbling block in the discussions, despite Canelo being one of the highest-paid boxers. It was obvious that Eubank Jr. would not settle for an offer that undervalued his boxing skills.
“There were specific numbers being discussed, but from a financial standpoint, it wasn’t feasible for me,” he clarified. Fighting for a sum that doesn’t honor my fighting abilities is no way for me to compete with Canelo. Look at the return on investment for your time and effort; this is business.
The possible fight’s time and place also presented logistical challenges. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on boxing tournaments, making things more complicated due to travel restrictions and different rules in different nations. Securing a venue and negotiating international broadcasting rights would have taken extensive planning for the fight, which eventually made the discussions more problematic.
Eubank Jr. is still hopeful about his boxing future, even though his bout with Canelo never took place. As a prominent figure in the middleweight division, he has made it plain that he is still looking for fights with big names. There has been no change in Eubank’s confidence notwithstanding the defeat.