Eubank Jr urged to chase Canelo fight over Benn rematch

Eubank Jr Should Target Canelo, Not Benn Rematch, Says Harlem Eubank

Harlem Eubank believes his cousin Chris Eubank Jr should aim for a legacy-defining showdown against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez instead of revisiting his rivalry with Conor Benn, which he says comes with unnecessary risks.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the unbeaten welterweight made it clear: Eubank Jr, now 35, should prioritize history over hype.

“There’s obviously a lot of money there for it [the Benn rematch],” Harlem admitted. “But I’d like to see him take the Canelo fight and sail into the sunset.”

Canelo Fight Could Be Career High Point

Any potential bout with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super-middleweight champion, would likely have to wait until 2026, with Canelo currently preparing to face Terence Crawford in September.

Harlem sees this opportunity as the ideal exit strategy for his cousin, who has already carved a successful path in the sport.

“All the big opportunities come near the end of a career,” Harlem said. “But I’d rather see him take the biggest fight in the sport and bow out.”

Weight Games Against Benn Were ‘Dangerous’

Eubank Jr defeated Conor Benn in April in a long-anticipated grudge match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, two years after their original 2022 fight was cancelled due to Benn’s failed drug tests.

However, Harlem criticized the weight clauses in the first fight — especially the 10lb rehydration limit, which left Eubank Jr visibly drained.

The 35-year-old was even fined £375,000 for initially missing the weight by just 0.05lb before a second weigh-in corrected the issue.

“Weight games should never be appropriate in boxing,” Harlem insisted. “Trying to weaken an opponent with rehydration clauses should be eradicated from the sport.”

Catterall is a Step Above Benn, Says Harlem

Harlem Eubank is currently preparing for his own high-stakes bout against former world title challenger Jack Catterall on 5 July in Manchester.

Catterall is best known for his controversial split-decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2022 and is widely considered one of the UK’s most technically gifted fighters.

“Jack has operated at world level for years. He’s leaps and bounds ahead of Conor Benn,” Harlem said.

Despite previously calling out Benn, Harlem believes the match-up with Catterall is on “a whole different level.”

“Benn lost to Jr by a wide margin in an entertaining fight. I gave him props for going the distance, but my next opponent is a class above.”