- Talks over a grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn broke down
- Eubank Jr has now hit out at his promoter for trying to make him fight ‘a nobody’
- Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson’s rivalry could be this generation’s Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao – The Hook
Chris Eubank Jr has hit out at his promoter on social media for lining up his next fight without his approval.
Eubank Jr has teamed up with Kalle and Nisse Sauerland’s promotional company Wasserman in recent times, and they have been working to schedule the middleweight contender’s return to the ring following his knockout win over Liam Smith in September.
It appeared that Eubank Jr was finally set to take on Conor Benn in a grudge match just over a year after their fight was cancelled when Benn failed two drugs tests.
However, talks broke down earlier this week, forcing Eubank Jr to look elsewhere.
Kalle Sauerland stated his fighter could now look to take on little-known IBO champion Etinosa Oliha instead, but Eubank Jr seems bemused by this suggestion and claimed on Saturday morning that he had been left in the dark by his promoter after believing he had agreed to face WBO and IBF champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Chris Eubank Jr has hit out at his promoter Kalle Sauerland (left) on social media
He has claimed his promotional team are trying to get him to fight ‘a nobody’ next
Eubank Jr had looked set to fight Conor Benn, but talks broke down earlier this week
Eubank Jr’s team asked the WBO to not call him as their mandatory challenger back in October so that he could pursue an ‘alternative fight’, but the 34-year-old has now insisted he is ready to face Janibek.
‘Went to sleep after agreeing to fight Janibek for world titles… Woke up & now my promoter @sauerlandbros is trying make me fight Etinosa Oliha a boxer nobody has heard of… @wassermanboxing how & why?’ a confused Eubank Jr asked on X.
Oliha is unbeaten in 19 fights as a professional, but has never fought outside of Italy and Germany and has no notable wins on his record.
He has held the IBO belt since July, although this is not widely recognised as a fully-fledged world title.
Eubank Jr previously won the IBO strap at super-middleweight by beating Australia’s Renold Quinlan in 2017, and is seemingly not interested in going back over old ground.
Eubank Jr described Etinosa Oliha as a ‘nobody’ after learning he may have to fight the Italian
Eubank Jr claims he has agreed to fight WBO and IBF champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (right)
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Janibek is rated as the No1 middleweight in the world by The Ring Magazine, winning 10 of his 15 fights by knockout.
The 30-year-old southpaw already has two victories over Brits in Danny Dignum and Denzel Bentley, and he could get the chance to beat a third if Eubank Jr can convince his promoter to take the fight.
But, following Eubank Jr’s rant, it seems he needs to get on the same page with the Sauerlands first as they plot his next career move.
Eubank Jr lost his only other world title shot against domestic rival George Groves back in 2018.
