Chris Eubank Jr. has signed a deal with BOXXER as he moves on to the next phase of his career. 

Eubank has not boxed since his victory over Liam Smith last year. He avenged his fourth-round stoppage loss by beating Smith in the rematch. It was the first fight he had since teaming up with Terence Crawford’s trainer, Brian McIntyre. The working relationship promised much, but Eubank’s career stalled when he could not get his next fight. He eventually parted ways with Wasserman Boxing. The Conor Bennfight is now unlikely, following Benn’s failed VADA tests for Clomiphene have resulted in him being suspended, as an investigation continues.

Meanwhile, Eubank has been linked with a fight against Canelo Alvarez. Current reports indicate he is the font runner ahead of Edgar Berlanga and Jermall Charlo. Alvarez has been ordered to face his IBF mandatory William Scull Chris Eubank Jr BOXXERnext. While a deal has been agreed upon, it appears to be a step-aside deal. That fight would sell in the UK, but Canelo is unlikely to target a fight there unless there is big money on the line.

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At 34 years of age, Eubank does not have too much time left in his career. He can chase the big money fight, including a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders. Alternatively, there is the chance to chase a world title, with plenty of names at 160, such as Carlos Adamas (WBC champion) or Janibek Alimkhanuly (WBO and IBF champion). Either way, Eubank is ready to take the next steps.

“I’m very excited to have signed with BOXXER and Ben Shalom. They fit the direction I want to go in. We have big plans over the next 12 to 24 months. There are big fights in the pipeline and these guys can make it happen. This is a partnership. I have the freedom and the leeway to work how I want to work, which is very rare. I’m in a position of power. I’m in a position to really control the direction that I want to go in so I’m excited.

“I’ve been in the game for 12 years now and I’m still hungry. I’m still excited. I’m still in love with the sport of boxing. [And] I’m in a blessed position right now where there are four or five different names out there that are mega fights that everybody wants to see. Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, Conor Benn, Billy Joe Saunders – and that’s just off the top of my head. There are many more fights out there that can be made, even domestically, so I’m in an exciting position,” Eubank said

“He brings excitement and intrigue wherever he goes. BOXXER is his natural home and I’m incredibly excited to work with Chris to make sure we fully realise his huge potential and fierce ambition. We’ve had the privilege of working with Chris on some massive fight nights in the UK and there will be plenty more to come in the UK and worldwide. The hunger and ambition is there. We can’t wait to see him back in action and involved in some massive fights,” Ben Shalom BOXXER

Terence Crawford is no Floyd Mayweather.

When Floyd Mayweather fought Canelo Alvarez in 2013, the Mexican boxer had yet to become the face of the sport. However, with 0 losses and 42 wins, the boxing world knew that Alvarez was the next best thing! So, prudent Mayweather made it a point to face Canelo when the latter was 23 and deficient in the maturity he captured later in the sport. Of course, Mayweather understood a victory against Canelo would look impressive on his resume since the latter was bound for greatness following Floyd’s exit.

At the same time, following 2.2 million pay-per-view buys, Canelo Alvarez vs. Floyd Mayweather generated $150 million to be one of the most financially successful events in boxing. With this information in his head,  Teofimo Lopez feels by wanting to face Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford is actually trying to follow in the footsteps of ‘TBE.’ “Canelo is still the face of boxing, you can’t take that away. Crawford wouldn’t want Canelo if he wasn’t the face of boxing realistically,” said Lopez.

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“It’s a money grab, it’s a money fight. He wants to do what Floyd Mayweather did to Canelo. He’s just trying to copy and paste it,” added Teofimo Lopez, dwelling upon Crawford’s ambitions. However, can Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez the way Floyd Mayweather defeated the Mexican boxer?

“He can’t do that, ain’t nobody like Floyd,” replied ‘The Takeover.’ In addition, Teofimo Lopez explained why Alvarez would not be an easy opponent for Crawford to deal with.

When Terence Crawford expressed his desire to face Canelo Alvarez, Shane Mosley immediately pointed out that the Mexican fighter was “too big” for Crawford. In his words, going against Alvarez, ‘Bud’ would be “biting off more than he can chew.” Now, Lopez is in agreement with Mosley. So, although, out of respect, he branded Crawford vs. Canelo as a “great fight,” Lopez added, “I think Canelo is just too big for him though.”

“Too big realistically, too big for him, too strong, he’s used to that weight class. It is what it is,” he said. In his opinion, while Alvarez is the face of boxing, Crawford is just aiming for the former’s legacy in the sport. “People going to talk, people going to say what they want, we won’t know until they fight each other,” he concluded.

If Canelo Alvarez faces Chris Eubank Jr next it may well be extremely beneficial for Terence Crawford.

Saudi boxing chief HE Turki Alalshikh is hoping to stage a super fight between Canelo and Crawford in the not-so-distant future over in Riyadh.

‘Bud’ is working with the HE Alalshikh for his upcoming clash against WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles.

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Provided he comes through that fight unscathed, then a blockbuster showdown with Canelo may well happen next.

HE Alalshikh is aiming for the fight to take place in either December or January.

Eubank Jr is reportedly the frontrunner to box Canelo in his next outing this September while Edgar Berlanga is also said to be an alternative option.

Crawford will be hoping Canelo goes with the former as Eubank Jr is his training partner.

If Eubank Jr lands the fight then he will able to give the American plenty of inside information ahead of his own date with the Mexican superstar.

Meanwhile, Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre – who trains both men – will benefit from preparing a game plan to face Canelo twice in a row.

‘Bomac’ has trained Crawford his entire professional career, while he linked up with Eubank Jr ahead of his rematch with Liam Smith last September.

Eubank Jr has often bounced between different trainers having previously worked with Roy Jones Jr, Ronnie Davies, Adam Booth and even his father Chris Eubank Sr.

But the way in which he rebounded under McIntyre to dismantle Smith after suffering a devastating stoppage defeat eight months prior, suggests ‘Bomac’ is a good fit and will therefore take the reins again for his next fight.

Eubank Jr has been out of action since beating Smith and has been campaigning for a fight with Canelo for several years now to no avail.

He has yet to win a world title as a professional but could have the opportunity to box Canelo for his undisputed super-middleweight crown this summer.

It’s a move his father Eubank Sr would approve of, having previously suggested that a fight with Canelo would help drastically shift his son’s public perception.

He told talkSPORT: “Let’s get to the point, Canelo is the only person he’s gonna be able to fight now to redeem any type of respect from the fighting public.

“Real fighters, real boxing people. I know how you win respect, it’s not beating a Liam Smith.

“Junior, this is what my view is – your saving grace is going to be Canelo. You’re never gonna get back down to 160lbs, I won’t allow that to happen anyway.

“You’re a 168lbs fighter, Canelo is your way to win respect and you cannot beat him, not Canelo.

“The only way you can beat him is if Daddy is next to you. That’s it.”