Should Eubank Jr. Retire?

Chris Eubank Jr. has been linked with the Canelo Alvarez fight, but should he retire from the sport? 

Eubank’s confidence is riding high after he secured a victory against Conor Benn in one of the biggest wins of his career. It was a thrilling fight as Eubank secured a unanimous decision to give Benn his first career defeat. He overcame several obstacles heading into the fight. He had to make 160 pounds with a 10-pound rehydration clause. Eubank ultimately missed weight, which cost him an exorbitant fine.

There were also doubts about whether Eubank’s father, Chris Eubank Sr., would turn up on fight night. 
Eubank Sr. was against the fight initially, having said that there were safety concerns. Eubank Sr., however, turned up to walk out his son to secure the biggest win. Sr. has said that he would like to see his son retire, as Jr.’s popularity has increased exponentially. He has also secured his financial future from the sport with reports he earned £7.5 million from the Benn fight. 

Options

Meanwhile, Eubank has said he would like to fight Canelo Alvarez. Alvarez is the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion, who will box Terence Crawford in September. Alvarez is the cash cow of the sport, offering Eubank an opportunity to earn one more big payday. The fight would also take place at 168 pounds, something more beneficial to Eubank, as he is unlikely to make 160 again. Canelo has expressed his desire to fight in the UK before he retires from the sport. Alvarez is not in his prime, as Eubank may fancy his chances.

Alternatively, there has also been talk of a Benn rematch. Reports indicate that a rematch could take place in September, with Eubank saying he is willing to do what the public wants. However, there is the issue of the weight. Eubank has more pulling power since he may decide that he does not want a rehydration clause. Meanwhile, Benn risks harming his career further since he is a 147 fighter. 
Benn also has potential title shots at 147 against the likes of Mario Barrios.

Eubank may also decide to try and chase another big domestic fight against Liam Smith. Their current record stands at 1-1, with Eubank having stopped Smith in his last fight. Smith was not in the best condition heading into the second fight, having not done the weight cut properly. There were also suggestions that he injured himself during the fight, as Smith has indicated his desire to have one more bout. However, Eubank’s focus is on Canelo, but has he done enough to walk away from the sport?

“The fans would love to see that fight. That’s a name that’s in my line of sight. We will be doing whatever we can to secure that fight in the future. He is an opponent I’ve been looking at for many years. And the fans would love to see that. So 100 per cent that’s a name in my line of sight. That is another stadium filler, absolutely. Wembley, Tottenham. Boxing is a very beautiful industry where anything can happen. The possibilities are endless,” Eubank Jr. said