Eubank Jr targets Benn & Alvarez in next 12 months

Chris Eubank Jr is targeting a conflict pinch superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez successful May and besides expects to look chap Briton Conor Benn "within nan adjacent 12 months".

The 34-year-old takes connected Poland's Kamil Szeremeta connected 12 October successful Saudi Arabia.

Eubank Jr has been retired of nan ringing since September, erstwhile he avenged a stoppage conclusion by Liam Smith.

"I want to get backmost into nan plaything of things and make these mega fights complete nan adjacent 12 months," Eubank Jr told nan BBC Radio 5 Live Boxing podcast.

Eubank Jr is yet to triumph a recognised world title but remains 1 of nan biggest draws successful British boxing.

He was successful nan moving to look unified super-middleweight champion Alvarez adjacent period but a purse could not beryllium negotiated.

"There were discussions but we couldn't travel to position connected nan business broadside of things. I've been retired of nan ringing for 12 months - I wasn't looking to conflict Canelo for a payday," Eubank Jr said.

"I want to hit this guy. Get maine immoderate bully coagulated fights complete nan adjacent six months and past I'll return [Alvarez] retired successful May."

In a wide-ranging question and reply which will beryllium disposable connected nan 5 Live Boxing podcast, Eubank Jr speaks candidly astir nan unit of being nan boy of British boxing fable Chris Eubank Sr.

"Now it's not truthful overmuch astir surviving up to my dad's aura and expectation. That utilized to interest maine but now that's conscionable not portion of who I am," he said.

Eubank Jr was scheduled to meet Benn successful October 2022, 30 years aft their fathers Nigel Benn and Eubank Sr fought, but nan conflict was cancelled erstwhile it emerged Benn had grounded 2 voluntary supplier tests.

Benn, who has ever insisted he is guiltless of intentionally doping, is presently suspended from fighting aft UK Anti-Doping and nan British Boxing Board of Control successfully appealed against nan lifting of his ban.

But Eubank Jr says "that section cannot beryllium closed" and insists he will telephone nan shots connected a imaginable early bout betwixt nan pair.

"I ideate it's going to hap successful nan adjacent 12 months. As soon arsenic he gets his licence backmost and his profession backmost connected track, that conflict will happen," Eubank Jr said.

He added: "[Benn] has nary opportunity successful thing now. He's mislaid each his privileges. You can't neglect a supplier trial and travel backmost and opportunity 'I still want weight clauses and rehydration clauses'. Now you return what you get. Now you're nan bad guy.

"Now it's not conscionable astir really our dads fought. Now we person our ain beef. We person our ain story. We person our ain history."