By Edward Chaykovsky
Chris Eubank Jr. (23-1, 18 KOs) is moving up to the super middleweight division on February 4th, when he challenges IBO world champion Renold Quinlan in London.
Eubank Jr. is still planning to take fights at the middleweight of 160. He says the move to super middleweight is to expand his potential fight options.
Last Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, IBF super middleweight James DeGale fought to a twelve round majority draw with WBC world champion Badou Jack.
In the fight, DeGale suffered numerous injuries including his teeth getting knocked out.
After watching that fight, Eubank Jr. says it's "embarrassing" that DeGale is considered to be one of the best boxers in the super middleweight division.
"DeGale is seen as one of the best, if not the best super middleweight in the world, and I think that's embarrassing in my opinion,” Eubank Jr. said to The Independent. "As everybody saw the other night, the guy is just easy to hit.
“He comes out after a 12-round fight and he's got no teeth – that's embarrassing in my opinion. You're a world champion and you have no defense.”
DeGale is one of Eubank's career targets. He wants to get his hands on DeGale, WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, and IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin. After Eubank completes his fight next month, he aims to secure one of the three in the summer.
“Those are the three on I want, but I know boxing is a fickle sport so I’m going to take whatever I can get,” Eubank said. “You can’t plan a route like that and you just have to deal with things as and when they come.
“As I said, those are the three guys I would like, but I know there are no guarantees. I’ll be ready for anything and that all starts with February 4 and beating Quinlan.”
