Briton, Chris Eubank Jr has emerged as a prominent figure in the super-middleweight division, with speculation in mid-2024 suggesting he was a frontrunner to step into the ring with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for a highly anticipated clash.
The reporter for Boxing on ESPN, Salvador Rodriguez (@ChavaESPN), stated in a tweet in July 2024 that Canelo vs Chris Eubank Jr was then considered ‘the favourite to close an agreement’ for Canelo’s next fight. However, as time has unfolded, this blockbuster bout did not materialise, and the landscape of the super-middleweight division has seen significant shifts since then.
Chris Eubank Jr last fought in September of last year (2023) where he avenged his loss over fellow Brit, Liam Smith, after being victim of a TKO in their previous fight last January (2023). This victory set the stage for Eubank Jr to pursue what could have been one of his last major paydays. It seemed likely he would fight rival, Conor Benn, before the latter was suspended again for testing positive for a banned substance when the two were originally scheduled to fight in late 2022. The saga surrounding Benn’s doping issues has since seen multiple twists and turns, eventually leading to their highly anticipated encounters.
The Unfulfilled Challenge: Canelo vs. Eubank Jr. Update
Despite the initial reports, the proposed fight between Canelo Alvarez and Chris Eubank Jr. ultimately fell through. Reports from July 2024 indicated that negotiations stalled, primarily due to Eubank Jr.’s demands regarding his purse, coupled with his perceived limited marketability in the United States. Canelo’s promotional team reportedly “couldn’t get to a number that Chris [Eubank Jr] felt was acceptable for a fight of that size,” according to Eubank Jr.’s promoter, Ben Shalom. This meant that the opportunity for Eubank Jr. to challenge for the undisputed super-middleweight championship against the Mexican superstar did not come to fruition at that time.
Instead of facing Eubank Jr., Canelo Alvarez went on to defend his undisputed super-middleweight titles against other contenders. He secured a unanimous decision victory over Jaime Munguia on May 4, 2024, followed by another unanimous decision win against Edgar Berlanga on September 13, 2024. Canelo continued his active schedule, defeating William Scull by unanimous decision on May 3, 2025. However, his reign as undisputed champion came to a dramatic end in his next bout.
Canelo’s Reign and Shocking Defeat
Reigning Undisputed Super-Middleweight champion, Saul Alvarez, had previously fought and beaten eight British opponents during his career spanning 18 years, earning him the moniker ‘Brit Basher’. His impressive record against British fighters included victories over Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Amir Khan, Liam Smith, Rocky Fielding, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, and John Ryder. He was looking to add another name to his record should a fight with Eubank Jr. have been made. However, a different challenge emerged, one that would redefine his legacy.
On September 13, 2025, Canelo Alvarez faced pound-for-pound king Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford in a highly anticipated clash for the undisputed super-middleweight championship. In a stunning upset, Crawford defeated Canelo by unanimous decision, with judges scoring the bout 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in his favor. This victory saw Crawford become the undisputed super-middleweight champion, making him one of only six male boxers in history to win world titles in five divisions. Crawford also became the only boxer in history to hold The Ring magazine title in four divisions. This loss marked a significant turning point for Canelo, who had not lost since 2022. Canelo is now scheduled to return to the ring on September 12, 2026, in Riyadh, to face WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli, aiming to reclaim a piece of the division’s gold.
Eubank Jr.’s Path and the Benn Saga
Chris Eubank Jr. was previously a Super-Middleweight champion twice when he beat Renold Quinlan in 2017 for the IBO title, before losing it to George Groves a year after but then reclaiming it against James DeGale in 2019. His pursuit of a third super-middleweight world title, and potentially undisputed status, would have been realized had he defeated Canelo.
Following his revenge win over Liam Smith in September 2023, Eubank Jr. continued to stay active. He secured a seventh-round knockout victory over Kamil Szeremeta on October 12, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This fight was notable as it led to an in-ring confrontation with Conor Benn, reigniting their rivalry.
The highly anticipated grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, which was originally scheduled for October 2022 but cancelled due to Benn’s failed drug tests, finally took place twice in 2025. Conor Benn, after a protracted legal battle, was cleared to fight in the UK in November 2024, when the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) ruled they were “not comfortably satisfied” that UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) had proved he committed a doping offence. Benn had fought twice in the US during his provisional suspension, defeating Rodolfo Orozco in September 2023 and Peter Dobson in February 2024.
The first Eubank Jr. vs. Benn bout occurred on April 26, 202
