‘He has to win in even better fashion to demand Canelo fight’: Shalom talks Eubank vs Benn rematch
Chris Eubank Jr’s promoter says if he wants to secure a Canelo fight he’ll need to turn in an ever better performance over Conor Benn.
Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom talks to iFL TV about where things currently stand on an anticipated rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conon Benn. During the conversation Shalom says the details for the rematch still haven’t been completely ironed out but it’ll certainly be another big event for British boxing and Eubank will look to use a better showing to demand a showdown with Canelo Alvarez.
Shalom on if Eubank vs Benn 2 will happen on September 27
“I’m not sure on the exact date because we have not got there yet. I know that’s the one at Spurs, potentially. Obviously the fixtures are still to come out but this could fill out any stadium. It could go to Wembley, it could go to Cardiff in the indoor arena. It could go anywhere.
“I think the fight became bigger after the fight. It was massive before but what it did after was crazy. I think it’s put British boxing on the map, I think it’s been so good for the sport. I think people that never spoke about boxing are now talking about boxing just because of that fight so if it can be done again in the right circumstances of course it should happen but when, where — still a few things to wait for and see.”
On whether the weight for the rematch is negotiable
“I think — look, the fight itself did a lot for British boxing and was unbelievable but what do you want? You want the fighters to go in there, make as much money as possible but come out safe, and I think it was the one concern of the night that that might not happen.
“Conor Benn’s proven himself at the weight now, it was an unbelievable performance, very competitive for a weight that he looked comfortable at. And now if we’re going to do it again — which hopefully for British boxing sake we do it again because of how big it is — the key is to have everyone involved to make sure there isn’t those concerns and they come out safe.
“So can it be changed? Maybe it’s the weigh-in, the actual weigh-in on the Thursday that could be looked at because at the end of the day the weight closest to the fight is really the one that matters from a sporting sense. Do we need to make the fighters get down so low? Maybe not. Maybe they don’t. It’s not for a world title.”
On whether a Eubank win in the Benn rematch is key to getting a Canelo fight
“I’m under no illusion, he has to win in even better fashion to demand that Canelo fight. Genuinely, I think that Canelo fight happens early next year. Of course he can’t come in off the back of a loss to Conor Benn so it’s huge, it’s massive. [Alalshikh] wants to make that fight as well...”