Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs. Chris Eubank Jr. - Who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez’s Next Fight: ‘Frontrunner’ Named For September Fight

Canelo Alvarez is expected to make his annual fight around Mexican Independence Day in September, and it appears his opponent is beginning to take shape.

According to ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez, an Alvarez vs Chris Eubank Jr. fight is reportedly now being negotiated, and the latter has been identified as the ‘frontrunner’ to face the Mexican icon on the coveted September date.

Alvarez, 33, is coming off a one-sided victory via unanimous decision over Jaime Munguia in May. A fight with Eubank Jr. would likely be for Alvarez’s undisputed super middleweight titles.

Eubank Jr. is 34, and his last fight was a 10th-round TKO victory over Liam Smith in September 2023. Eubank Jr. gained revenge with the win after he suffered his first stoppage loss against Smith in January 2023. He would come into the fight with Alvarez with a 33-3 record with 24 KOs to his record.

Eubank Jr. is a second-generation star, the son of a UK boxing legend and former world champion, Chris Eubank Sr. Eubank Jr. has held interim titles at middleweight, and he once challenged for the WBA title at 168 pounds but lost a unanimous decision to George Groves in February 2018.

If the two sides can reach an agreement, it would represent the biggest opportunity Eubank Jr. has had as a professional and most likely the largest payday. He was trained by Brian McIntyre, aka Bo-Mac, for the rematch with Smith, and he looked like a different fighter. It would be interesting to see if Eubank Jr. would retain McIntyre’s services for the biggest fight of his career.

If so, McIntyre–already considered one of the premier trainers in the sport–would have an opportunity to add a significant notch to his belt by guiding Eubank Jr. to a massive upset. Because of Eubank Jr’s notoriety in the UK, the fight has the potential to be commercially successful in three countries (Mexico, the United States, and the United Kingdom).

However, Alvarez is still likely to be criticized for again failing to make a fight with David Benavidez. The undefeated Arizona native had been chasing a fight with Alvarez, but the latter hasn’t shown much interest in fighting him.

Alvarez appears to recognize the danger Benavidez poses to him, and at this stage of the former’s career, he has talked about taking the fights that make the most sense for him with a concentration on risk-reward.

After Benavidez’s unanimous decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June, on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin card, the former expressed a desire to move on from chasing a fight with Alvarez.

Ironically, Alvarez appears to have adopted the approach of one of his earliest rivals, Floyd Mayweather Jr., the first and one of only two men to hand the Mexican legend a loss. As it is, there are worse fights for Alvarez if the bout with Eubank Jr. becomes official.

Grouped with Noche UFC and the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel DuBois title fight, September is shaping to be an exciting month for combat sports.

[joshj909]

Eubank wakes up the next day talking like his dad

[Lackeos]

The best options are like Eubank, Jermall, and Mbili (excluding Benavidez, who is 175 now), so

Canelo Alvarez is expected to make his annual fight around Mexican Independence Day in September, and it appears his opponent is beginning to take shape.

Are you suggesting that he only fights once a year? Because this will be his second fight in 2024, he fought twice in 2023, twice in 2022, and 3 times in 2021. In fact, other than Covid in 2020, he's fought 2+ times every year of his career.

[Thomastearns]

The best options are like Eubank, Jermall, and Mbili (excluding Benavidez, who is 175 now), so

Canelo Alvarez is expected to make his annual fight around Mexican Independence Day in September, and it appears his opponent is beginning to take shape.

Are you suggesting that he only fights once a year? Because this will be his second fight in 2024, he fought twice in 2023, twice in 2022, and 3 times in 2021. In fact, other than Covid in 2020, he's fought 2+ times every year of his career.

I think it's known that Canelo likes to take full financial advantage of Mexico's annual Independence Day celebrations in mid September and the Cinqo De Mayo one on the 5th of May.

When it comes to cynically extracting every last peso from his beguiled fans he's certainly up there with the likes of Floyd "money" Mayweather and Tyson "I've donated my purse to charity" Fury.

[apollo creed]

I could see this fight being made. Its an easy money grab for Canelo, as he said he'd want to fight in UK sometime.

Benavidez would need to get another fight at 175 bc I doubt Canelo would fight him.

[Cent0089]

I could see this fight being made. Its an easy money grab for Canelo, as he said he'd want to fight in UK sometime.

Benavidez would need to get another fight at 175 bc I doubt Canelo would fight him.

David Morrel going to 175, he called out Benavidez multiple times. Wondering if he will be loud about Morrell as he was about Canelo. Probably not

[apollo creed]

I could see this fight being made. Its an easy money grab for Canelo, as he said he'd want to fight in UK sometime.

Benavidez would need to get another fight at 175 bc I doubt Canelo would fight him.

David Morrel going to 175, he called out Benavidez multiple times. Wondering if he will be loud about Morrell as he was about Canelo. Probably not

Eventually they'd fight each other but first they need to build their resumes at 175 to generate demand. Also Bena is being offered a fight vs Bivol-Beterbiev winner in Saudi Arabia which is the biggest fight that can be made for him at 175.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez vs. Chris Eubank Jr. likely for 2025

As Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was searching for an opponent earlier this summer for his most recent fight (a matchup ultimately awarded to Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas), the 168-pound king contemplated a clash against Chris Eubank Jr.

Eubank, who hasn’t fought as a super middleweight since 2019, was a surprise addition to Alvarez’s biannual sweepstakes. Still, a deal didn’t cross the finish line because Eubank demanded a bigger purse for taking a fight of that magnitude on short notice while coming off a one-year layoff.

Eubank (33-3, 24 KOs) has since signed on to fight Kamil Szeremeta on October 12 in a middleweight fight in Saudi Arabia.

Eubank’s promoter Ben Shalom, the head of Boxxer, is confident a deal with Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) will cross the finish line next year.

“I genuinely believe that fight will happen next year, either in May or September,” Shalom told BS in an interview while promoting his cruiserweight titleholder Chris Billam-Smith’s Nov. 16 fight against Gilberto Ramirez.

“Whether in Las Vegas or the UK, Chris is ready for the Canelo fight and hopefully it will happen next year. I really believe that. He was out of the ring for a year and was given a six-to-seven-weeks notice. He's a big star already and earns big money anyway. He's not the type that you can tempt into the ring for a payday. He's made a fortune in the sport. He wants to go into that fight to win. So he wants to go into that fight prepared. After the Kamil Szeremeta fight on October 12, it's big fights only, and Canelo is on top of the list.

“I believe that is the one fight [that brings Alvarez to the UK]. If Canelo Alvarez wants to cement his legacy, because, believe me, British boxing fans absolutely adore him, he's beaten all of our guys, the fight against Eubank is the one that sells out Wembley Stadium. Let's see if it makes sense.

“I think so [that Eubank is next in line]. Eubank brings his own audience, and that's very rare for Canelo's opponents. Canelo is the A-side, but Eubank is a PPV star in his own right. One of the few, and probably the only one in British boxing outside of the heavyweights. That's a big sell. He has the history, and everyone knows his dad Chris Eubank Sr. You see how he talks up a fight. A press conference between them would be absolutely gold. I could see how it makes sense for both guys. It was very close to happening in September, and hopefully it can happen in May.”

If the framework of the previous deal was nearly set, and some of Eubank’s bargaining points were met, Alvarez could be inclined to fight Eubank, especially since he’s running out of credible opponents to face at 168 pounds. He has also long wanted to fight in locales around the world such as the United Kingdom and Japan.

The four-division champion Alvarez has beaten many Brits over the last 13 years, including John Ryder, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Rocky Fielding, Liam Smith, Amir Khan, Matthew Hatton and Ryan Rhodes.

The second-generation star Eubank, from Brighton, hasn’t fought since stopping Liam Smith in September 2023 in a rematch to avenge his knockout to Smith eight months prior.

Eubank, 35, made headlines last week by bashing “scumbag” promoters while ramping up his fight against the underdog Szeremeta, which will take place on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

“He's been in the game a long time. He knows how to make headlines. He knows how to drop bombs,” said Shalom. “Was it helpful when all of the promoters are trying to work together? Probably not. But no one is going to tell Chris Eubank Jr. what to do, or what to say. He has the old-school British mentality. He's box office.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Alvarez open to Chris Eubank Jr fight as he targets UK debut

Canelo Alvarez and Chris Eubank Jr have both underlined their interest in a potential showdown in the UK; Canelo is preparing to face William Scull in Saudi Arabia this weekend while Eubank Jr is coming off his victory over Conor Benn, who he could face again in a rematch later this year

Canelo Alvarez wants to add Chris Eubank Jr to his list of British scalps, and would be willing to come to the UK to do so.

Turki Alalshikh told Sky Sports in February that the winner of Eubank Jr against Conor Benn would be in line to secure a shot at Canelo in 2026.

Eubank won Saturday's Tottenham showdown by unanimous decision to keep that dream alive, though is contracted to face Benn in a rematch later this year.

Canelo is meanwhile gearing up to face William Scull in Saudi Arabia this weekend, but has opened the door to a meeting with Eubank.

"I have beaten eight Brits so far?" Canelo said in an interview with The Ring Magazine. "Well it's going to be nine then.

"I want to fight in the UK and I promise I will do it. I don't know exactly where yet but I am going to do it.

"Would people like to see me against Chris Eubank Jr? Maybe that's the fight. That's a fight I'd consider but we don't know what is going to happen."

Canelo is meanwhile reportedly set to face undefeated pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in Las Vegas in September in what is set to be one of the biggest fights in modern boxing history.

The Mexican last fought a British opponent in 2023 when he beat John Ryder by unanimous decision, having also previously overcome Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, Rocky Fielding, Liam Smith, Amir Khan, Ryan Rhodes and Matthew Hatton.

"We will see what will happen but I think the fight between me and Eubank is big, no?" Canelo added.

"I think doing big fights is all I want. I want to enjoy everything I do now. I've accomplished everything in boxing. Maybe I could beat more world champions but I want to be in more big fights and big events."

Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports for the first time since his win over Benn, Eubank insisted "watch this space" with regards to what might follow for him.

"Boxing is a very beautiful industry where anything can happen," he said. "The possibilities are endless. If the rematch is meant to be, it will be.

"And if not, guess what? There are plenty of other amazing fights to be had. And great things for me to achieve in the sport.

Eubank reaffirmed his desire to take on Canelo in the near future, in what he believes awaits as another sell-out.

"That is another stadium filler, absolutely," said Eubank Jr.

"Wembley, Tottenham, any one of the large football stadiums in the UK will be filled for a fight like that.

"He is an opponent I've been looking at for many years now. And the fans would love to see that. So 100 per cent that's a name in my line of sight.

"And we will be doing whatever we can to secure that fight in the future."