Chris Eubank Jr becomes a free agent
Two-and-a-half years after teaming up with Kalle Sauerland and Wasserman Boxing and Chris Eubank Jr. has revealed that he has split from the promotional outfit and opted for free agency as he looks for the biggest and best fights in the middleweight division.
Eubank Jr. signed with Wasserman in January 2021 and has had fights since, winning four of them but picking up a first stoppage defeat against Liam Smith – a loss that was avenged with a knockout win of his own eight months later. Following their rematch, Eubank has been linked to a title challenge against Janibek Alimkhanuly and a high-profile clash against arguable pound-for-pound number one Terence Crawford.
However, Eubank publicly put his promoter on blast for suggesting that he should instead fight IBO champion Etinosa Oliha, who the Brit labelled as a ‘nobody’, after claiming to agree to a world title showdown with Alimkhanuly the night before.
Still, a fight has not been found for Eubank Jr and on Friday, Wasserman confirmed that they and ‘Next Gen’ had parted ways with a wholesome post on social media.
It’s been an emotional ride! Wishing you all the best for the future Chris and Nova Sports! pic.twitter.com/6FcZNw3Kgn
— Wasserman Boxing (@WassermanBoxing) April 27, 2024
“It has been an emotional ride! Wishing you all the best for the future Chris and Nova Sports!”
Whereas, in a less friendly post, Eubank Jr posted an image from popular 1994 prison movie Shawshank Redemption, insinuating that he had escaped from Wasserman.
I’m a FREE agent again!! 🙌🏽 Word of advice to any up & coming fighters: get yourself a solid legal + management team & make sure you only work with promoters that ALIGN with your vision, goals & dreams. These truth’s will set you FREE!! pic.twitter.com/e8eTO6ZmoO
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) April 28, 2024
“I’m a FREE agent again!! 🙌🏽 Word of advice to any up & coming fighters: get yourself a solid legal + management team & make sure you only work with promoters that ALIGN with your vision, goals & dreams. These truth’s will set you FREE!!”
A potential grudge match between Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn may well be on the horizon now, yet Benn’s ongoing case with the British Boxing Board of Control and U.K. Anti-Doping makes it tough to envisage their encounter any time soon – on British shores at least. Although, Eubank’s move into free agency does allow him to possibly work with the usually closed-off Top Rank, who promote Alimkhanuly.
The Kazakh is yet to fight since unifying his WBO strap with the IBF middleweight title against Vincenzo Gualtieri back in October and with Eubank ranked second with the WBO and yet to win a world title, it makes perfect sense for both men to take the fight, as Alimkhanuly seeks a big name to add to his résumé.
Alternatively, Queensberry’s Hamzah Sheeraz has established himself as a genuine threat for the middleweight world titles and has confirmed his intentions of fighting Alimkhanuly in the near-future.
A possible all-British affair between he and Eubank Jr. could provide the perfect opportunity for him to become a household name before he attempts to dethrone the champion, assuming he defeats Ammo Williams on June 1st.