Junior Younan hopeful a call will come to face Christian Mbilli or Caleb Plant

Super middleweight prospect Junior Younan is ready to make a statement, and he wants to do it at the expense of some of the division’s top names.

Younan, from Brooklyn, New York, is 21-0-1 (13 KOs), and has already scored two stoppage wins in 2024.

“These guys are scared,” Younan said. “These guys don’t wanna fight – Christian Mbilli, specifically you. I’ve been saying your name for weeks and months. Send me a contract, man. It’s simple.

“I’m just waiting on a bigger opportunity to present itself, working with [promoter] Joe DeGaurdia and [manager] Robert Diaz, and I’m ready for the big boys and just waiting for someone to take the bait.”

Younan is trained by his father, Sherif, and his dad is also keen to make the Mbilli fight – though he’s also open to a bout with Caleb Plant.

“Christian Mbilli, we want you,” he said. “We’ve been calling you out. You even DM’d my son and sent some emojis, shaking hands and thumbs-up, as if he wants the fight, so let’s see what happens. And then we want Caleb Plant as well. He’s a target. All the guys in the top five – it’s time for him to get those big names.

“Caleb Plant is one of the best out there in that division. It’s all respect from me. Like back in the day: real fighters should fight real fighters.”

Junior said he is staying ready for when the call comes. The fighter is presently in Florida to support his friend, Pablo Valdez, who will fight on ProBox TV on Saturday night.

Younan, now 29, hopes a big fight will soon come his way.

“I’ve been around the very best since I was a kid,” he said, “starting with Zab Judah when he had the IBF Junior Younan hopeful a call will come to face Christian Mbilli or Caleb Plant and going to Paulie [Malignaggi] and Marcus Browne, Curtis Sevens, Jaidon Codrington, Danny Jacobs, Sadam Ali. I grew up around all these guys and I’m another one of them.” 

Asked about working together as a father-and-son duo, both said they can see improvements are being made.

“As I get older, I know the work I have to put in,” Junior said. “He was only on my butt when I wasn’t doing what I gotta do, so now everything’s flowing great and the chemistry is beautiful.”

Added his father: “We have a great relationship together. First and foremost, I’m his father. But in the gym, I’m his coach. He knows that and respects that. We’re like a 1-2 punch. It’s a combination. We deliver.”