Chris Eubank Jnr could challenge Erislandy Lara if Conor Benn fight fails to materialize
Nov 30, 2024 • 5:40 PM ET
Promoter Ben Shalom has said Chris Eubank Jnr could fight WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara if a fight with Conor Benn cannot be made.
The Eubank-Benn fight had been due to happen in 2022, but after Benn failed two tests for PED, the bout was cancelled at the 11th hour.
However, with Benn set to resume his career in 2025 after UKAD [UK Anti-Doping] opted not to appeal the recent ruling by the NADP [National Anti-Doping Panel], he and Eubank could resume what will surely be a lucrative contest.
However, Benn has also called out WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios and if he selects that option, it will allow Eubank Jnr, 34-3 (25 KOs), to face the Cuban veteran.
“That’s the fight that’s going to be made if Benn doesn’t get done,” confirmed Boxxer promoter Shalom. “That’s the fight we’re looking at. Obviously there’s a lot of talks about the Conor Benn fight. If they [Benn and Matchroom] are sensible, then that fight I believe happens. But obviously Chris has always wanted to win a world title and Lara represents a big opportunity.
“We’ve had preliminary talks [for Lara, who is with PBC]. We’ve been talking for a while about this fight, we were talking before the [Kamil] Szeremeta fight [which Benn won in October]. It’s a fight I believe both of them want, and I believe it presents a massive opportunity.
“Chris wants to be out as soon as possible and it could be March and if that fight happens, it [Lara-Eubank] could be in London. I think in the next or so we will know which direction we’re going in.”
Lara is 31-3-3 (19 KOs), and last fought when he stopped Danny Garcia in round nine in September.
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
