Chris Eubank Jr. plans to continue his boxing career and aims to be back in the ring by mid-2026, according to his promoter Ben Shalom, who spoke with ESPN. Eubank Jr. recently lost by unanimous decision to Conor Benn and revealed he faced significant challenges during training, though he did not provide details.
Both fighters had to follow a 10-pound hydration rule and could not weigh more than 170 pounds on fight day morning. Although Eubank Jr. has fought at middleweight (160 pounds) before, he feels that weight is not ideal for him. The 36-year-old has yet to confirm if he will keep fighting, but Shalom expressed confidence that Eubank Jr. will return next year.
Shalom described Eubank Jr. as emotionally crushed but recovering, emphasizing that the performance in the last fight was not representative of his true abilities. He believes Eubank Jr. landed only about 30% of his punches and urged patience as the boxer gets back to full fitness. Shalom also mentioned there is no rehydration clause involved and suggested a potential trilogy fight with Benn if Eubank Jr. regains peak condition.
Meanwhile, Conor Benn seems ready to move down to welterweight (147 pounds) for a world title shot and has declared the rivalry with Eubank Jr. over. Shalom said Eubank Jr. has multiple options if a third match doesn’t happen but emphasized that the fighter must be fully ready before taking on new challenges. He expects Eubank Jr. to make a comeback decision around mid-2026.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for fight fans as it signals that Chris Eubank Jr. is determined to bounce back stronger, maintaining the excitement around his career. If he returns to full form and a trilogy with Benn occurs, it could reignite a thrilling rivalry and add high stakes to the middleweight and welterweight divisions.
