Talks restart about Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-Chris Eubank Jnr

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Chris Eubank Jnr are again in talks about a potential showdown at Wembley Stadium according to the Englishman’s promoter, Ben Shalom. 

Negotiations between the two parties reached an advanced stage earlier in 2024 regarding a fight in Las Vegas in September, though it’s understood that Alvarez, who instead fought Edgar Berlanga, was open to the possibility of staging an outdoor showdown with Eubank Jnr in the UK on a later date.

“That fight can absolutely happen within the next year,” Eubank told Sky Sports. “He doesn’t have the pool of fighters available – there aren’t names left that fight fans want to see.

“After [David] Benavidez, there are no other guys. Maybe [Artur] Beterbiev and [Dmitry] Bivol but they are not in his weight class and he probably wouldn’t go up for those guys.”

Eubank campaigns at middleweight, where it was thought that a domestic grudge match with Conor Benn would take place, but the 35 year old – who boxed at super middleweight between 2017 and 2019 – spoke of his problems making 160lbs ahead of his victory on October 12 over Kamil Szeremeta. 

Though Eubank has been criticized for turning his back on the Mexican’s overtures in the summer, his decision was based on him being inactive at the time and the offer not big enough to risk being below par. “I won’t go into a fight just to turn up,” he said at the time. “I want to make sure I give myself the best possible chance of victory.”

“It’s not down to the Canelo side, it’s more Chris – and rightfully so,” Shalom told BoxingScene about those negotiations. Wembley Stadium was mentioned back then but it was an unworkable venue in September due to Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua taking place in the same month. The door would reopen once Eubank had shed some ring rust, and Canelo had dealt with Berlanga, who was outpointed over 12 rounds.

Eubank stopped Szeremeta in seven rounds before Benn was invited into the ring for some staged name-calling. Benn, however, remains under provisional suspension in the UK due to an anti-doping violation that prevented the pair from fighting in October 2022. Both Eubank and Shalom would favor a bout with Alvarez over Benn.

“I think Canelo knows that if he’s to box in the UK, which he is attracted to for the sake of his legacy, then Eubank is the only opponent who could generate the sort of numbers that he’d want and the spectacle he’d want,” Shalom said.

The promoter today confirmed to Sky Sports that “small conversations” have begun regarding Canelo-Eubank Jnr. “Obviously that [Canelo fight] was close last time,” Shalom said. “I believe that’s a fight that interests Canelo. You can imagine the press conference in the UK and the US – it would be absolutely huge.

“I think Canelo needs dance partners but he also needs stars. I don’t think his last couple of opponents have been the biggest stars and Chris Eubank Jr’s certainly a big star.

“If he’s ever going to fight in the UK, that’s the fight and that would sell out Wembley Stadium. That’s No. 1 on the list for me.”

Though the contest is a long way from being confirmed, it’s one that Eubank Jnr is now focusing on. 

“Me and Canelo would be a hell of a build-up,” he said. “Two very different personalities; very different backgrounds. That would be a lot of fun. It will be a lot of fun.”