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Boxing

Chris Eubank Jr. aiming for December title fight despite cancellation setback

Alexander Netherton
Chris Eubank Jr. aiming for December title fight despite cancellation setbackDAZN
The British contender could be given a mandatory WBA title challenge.

Chris Eubank Jr hopes to fight before the end of October as he plans for a potential title challenge in December.

Eubank Jr had been due to fight Sven Elbir on Saturday but he was ruled out with a positive Covid-19 test result. Russian fighter Anatoli Muratov stepped in as a late replacement but was prevented from fighting on medical grounds and the British Boxing Board of Control did not clear him to fight.

That meant that the 32-year-old English fighter was forced to duck off the card at Wembley, and he told Sky Sports of his shock.

"Nothing like this has ever happened in my career. First opponent gets Covid, second opponent fails a medical the day of the fight. It's surreal. It doesn't seem real,” he said.

"Everything happens for a reason and the plan now is to fight in two weeks' time. We're still on route. The plan is still to fight this month, so we're OK.

"Listen, I'm back in the gym tomorrow morning. I'm going to continue like this never happened and then I'll prepare for the next fight, which will be in a few weeks' time.

"There's plenty of opponents and it will be a good fight. It will be the right fight."

Eubank Jr. is likely to be given a mandatory title fight by the WBA, and he wants to get out this month in order to prepare for a big event in December.

"The plan was and still is to fight in December," he said. "We need to fight this month, so that I can have enough time to rest and then have a new training camp for a fight in December.

"It's vital that I get out this month and fight, because a big name or a world title fight is waiting for me in December."

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