Harlem Eubank: A Different Kind of Eubank, Fighting for His Own Legacy
‘I tried to stay away – but boxing found me,’ says Harlem Eubank ahead of career-defining clash with Jack Catterall
On a sunny afternoon two decades ago, a proud mother walked into a shop with her 10-year-old son in tow. That son, Harlem Eubank, had just won a British title at the national karate championships. It was a moment to celebrate.
Then came the run-in with his famous uncle.
“Harlem’s just won a British title!” she told Chris Eubank Sr., hoping for a hug, a smile — something to mark the occasion.
Instead, the former world champion barely blinked: “I had 19 world title defences,” he replied, and walked away.
Now 31 and preparing for the biggest fight of his professional boxing career, Harlem laughs at the memory. “My mum was probably fuming,” he says. “But even at that age, I understood what he meant. He was planting the seed — that it’s never enough. There’s always more to do. Aim higher.”
That seed, sternly but purposefully planted, has quietly grown into a man determined to step out of the shadow of a legendary surname and build something entirely his own.
Facing Jack Catterall: The toughest test yet
Harlem Eubank is not one for big talk or outlandish promises. He leaves that to other Eubanks. But there’s steel in his voice as he speaks about this weekend’s showdown with former world title challenger Jack Catterall at Manchester’s AO Arena.
“It’s a massive statement fight,” he tells BBC Sport. “That’s why I pushed for it. I believe I’ll be a world champion — and this is the fight that proves it.”
Catterall, regarded by many as the uncrowned undisputed super-lightweight champion following a controversial loss to Josh Taylor in 2022, is no tune-up. He’s as skilled and savvy as they come. But Harlem wants this — the hard fights, the pressure, the proving ground.
Because unlike his uncle Chris Sr. or cousin Chris Jr., Harlem didn’t grow up wanting to be a boxer. In fact, he actively tried not to.
The reluctant boxer: Why Harlem took the long way round
“When your family has already done it, gone to the top of the mountain, it’s easy to ask yourself, ‘What’s the point in trying?’” he reflects.
Instead, young Harlem threw himself into karate, earning a black belt by the age of 11. He was a gifted footballer too, spending time in Brighton & Hove Albion’s youth system.
It wasn’t until he was 14 that he wandered into a boxing gym out of curiosity — but football coaches insisted he had to pick one. So, he stepped away.
Four years later, though, boxing came calling again.
“I came back to it at 18 and never looked back,” he says. “It felt like boxing found me rather than me looking for it. Like it was meant to be.”
Small-hall shows, Channel 5 and a path of his own
Harlem Eubank turned professional at 23 and quickly discovered that carrying the Eubank name is a blessing and a burden.
“Everyone wants to beat you,” he says. “They bring their best version into the ring every time — like they’re fighting for a world title.”
In an era where influencers and reality TV stars are headlining fight nights, Harlem could’ve leaned into the family name, played the celebrity game, and fast-tracked to big money bouts.
He didn’t.
Instead, he ground it out on the small-hall circuit. Fight after fight, venue after venue, he earned his stripes the old-fashioned way.
“I’ve done it the traditional way,” he says. “There’s not a door I haven’t kicked down myself.”
His perseverance led to a regular spot on Channel 5’s Friday night boxing broadcasts — a throwback to when his uncle captivated millions on ITV.
“Being on Channel 5 has allowed me to engage with new people, with audiences who wouldn’t usually watch boxing,” he says. “It’s helped build a different kind of fan base.”
From underdog to main event
March 2025 was a breakthrough. With both Chris Eubank Sr. and Jr. ringside, Harlem stopped Tyrone McKenna in the 10th round — a dominant performance against a tough, seasoned fighter.
Now he faces Catterall — a fighter who’s operated at the very top and was, for many, robbed of history in Glasgow three years ago.
“Jack is the best at 147 pounds in the UK, hands down,” Harlem says. “Beating him opens the door to world titles and huge fights in the U.S.”
There’s little doubt that Catterall enters the bout as the favourite. But Harlem is comfortable in the role of underdog. He’s been proving people wrong his whole career.
“Time and time again, people have doubted me. And I’ve just kept showing up.”
A different kind of Eubank
Harlem Eubank might share the surname, but he’s carved a very different identity. He’s reserved where his uncle was flamboyant, quietly intense where his cousin thrives on confrontation.
But there’s something unmistakably Eubank about the pride he takes in doing things the hard way. In pushing for greatness, not shortcuts.
“I want to be a world champion,” he says, simply. “That’s what this is all about.”
Win or lose on Saturday night in Manchester, Harlem Eubank has already proved that he’s not just part of a famous family — he’s a fighter in his own right.
And if he gets his hand raised after 12 gruelling rounds, don’t expect a flashy post-fight speech or bold proclamations.
Just a nod to the journey, and maybe, somewhere deep down, the faintest smile from an uncle who knew all along that Harlem would find his way.
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