Chris Eubank Jr. To Challenge Nick Blackwell on March 5th

By Shaun Brown

Nick Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KOs) will defend his British middleweight title against Chris Eubank Jr (21-1, 16 KOs).

The fight, scheduled for March 5, will take place at Glow, Bluewater in Kent after Blackwell’s promoter Mick Hennessy won the purse bids to stage the contest.

A win for Blackwell would give him the Lonsdale belt outright having defended it twice already against Damon Jones (TKO 6) and last time out against Jack Arnfield (UD 12).

Eubank Jr, who stopped Spike O’Sullivan last time out in a WBA World middleweight title eliminator on pay-per-view had been on a short-term fight deal with Matchroom. That came to an end when Eddie Hearn lost out on the purse bids to stage Blackwell vs. Eubank Jr.

Boxing Scene spoke to Nick Blackwell today to get his reaction to the two Brits finally getting it on.

“I’m made up. I knew it was sort of happening because Mick gave me the heads up before Christmas so I’ve been training over Christmas and I’m in good shape now.

'Scene asked the champion if he thought Eubank Jr would step up and take the fight?

“No, but when Mick told me then I thought it was definitely happening. When Billy Joe [Saunders] won the [WBO] world title I knew Eubank Jr. would push for the fight because he lost to Billy Joe and world title means more money. And I’d heard rumours that was happening in July but that isn’t the case now.

“Me and Eubank are on. It was supposed to happen so many times. It’s a fight I’ve wanted for a while. I think his and my style will clash and it will be a great fight. I know I will beat Eubank when I’m at 110%. I can’t go in like my last couple of fights at 80, 90%. I will be at 110% and I will beat him. I’m feeling really good."

Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor