Eubank Jr should defend British belt

Chris Eubank Jr is one of the most improved fighers on the planet according to 168lb Commenwealth king Luke Blackledge.
Chris Eubank Jr and Tom DoranChris Eubank Jr and Tom Doran
Chris Eubank Jr and Tom Doran

However, the 25-year-old believes that the British middleweight champion could be biting off more than he can chew after challenging world number one Gennady Golovkin.

Following another impressive display against Tom Doran, where he stopped his opponent in the fourth round at the O2 Arena, Eubank Jr wasted no time in calling out the WBA Super, WBC, IBF and IBO supremo who boasts 32 knockouts from 35 career victories.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Brighton-based boxer also voiced his desire of a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders after the southpaw edged a split decision triumph in 2014.

Blackledge, though, believes the British number one middleweight should focus on winning his Lonsdale Belt outright by making another two defences.

“Eubank Jr really impressed me,” said the super-middleweight who is currently sparring Tyron Zeuge in Berlin.

“He took Tom Doran out and he did it well. He’s improved a lot and he’s probably one of the fastest and biggest improvers that I’ve seen in the sport.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He’s at that stage of his career where he needs to make sure that he’s taking the right fights at the right time. For me, jumping in to a fight with Golovkin is the wrong move.

“It’s a big call but I just can’t see him giving that British title up. He’s talking about Golovkin and Saunders but he should win his British title outright first. He’s only got two defences to make so I don’t think he’ll want to be stripped of his belt.”

Blackledge, himself, is keen to strip some weight in a bid to share the ring with Eubank Jr and feels confident that he’d be able to cause the champion plenty of problems.

“I still want that fight,” said the Elite boxer. “As soon as the fight finished I was on the phone to my team telling them to make it happen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m really confident about that fight. He’s a really good fighter and he’s improving all the time but that’s the one I want and I’m willing to drop down to middleweight to make it happen.

“You’ve got to go in there with a good gameplan, apply lots of pressure and keep busy. You need to work hard, rough him up and give him zero respect. That’s what I would do. I really want it.”

Blackledge, who would like to thank AJ Wood Ltd for their continued sponsorship and support, is next out at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on July 16th.

Anybody wishing to purchase tickets for the show can contact him on 07703 348207.