Chris Eubank Jr is gunning for Gennadiy Golovkin but knows Anatoli Muratov can derail his world title plans | Boxing News

April 30, 2022 admin

Chris Eubank Jr says he’s fully aware that Anatoli Muratov wants to inflict a massive upset that would wreck his plans for a fight against Gennadiy Golovkin.

The British middleweight contender revealed that he has been contacted about a potential clash with Golovkin, but Eubank Jr must firstly overcome Muratov tonight, live on Sky Sports.

Original opponent Sven Elbir was forced to pull out after testing positive for Covid-19, but Eubank Jr believes Muratov could pose a more serious threat to his title ambitions.

“This is a better opponent,” Eubank Jr said. “He has been active and has fought twice this year already.

“He was getting ready to fight again so he’s on the ball, he’s on the money.

“He’s coming to try and cause an upset. It’s my job to stop him from doing that.

“Yes, I have to change the game-plan, the strategy, the style, how to approach the fight.

“But in terms of the preparation? It has already been done. I will go [with my] instinct – what I feel is the best thing to do.

“I’ve been out of the ring for four months and I’m itching to go. I’ve been in the gym non-stop.”

Eubank Jr previously held the WBA ‘interim’ title, but the governing body are now expected to make him WBA mandatory challenger.

Ryota Murata holds the WBA ‘super’ title, while Erislandy Lara is also recognised as a WBA champion.

“I want the top dog. I want the main belt, the superior belt,” Eubank Jr has told Sky Sports.

“Murata is the fight that would make the most sense and the one that we’re going to push for.”

With Murata already lined up to fight Golovkin, then Eubank Jr could even receive a possible shot at the winner of their WBA and IBF unification bout.

“He [Golovkin] doesn’t know how to fight going backwards and I don’t know how to stop throwing punches,” said Eubank Jr.

“You put those two styles together and you’re in for a legendary boxing match.”

Germany-based Muratov has won 24 out of 27 – his two victories already in 2021 have come via stoppage.

Muratov said upon arrival to face Eubank Jr: “It is the biggest challenge for me in my life. I am a fighter and I live for this.

“I am happy to be here and to go into the ring. I am in shape. I have fought, in the past three months, two times. I feel great.”

For Eubank Jr, this fight is an opportunity to showcase his development under all-time great Roy Jones Jr, the trainer that he has spent much of the past two years alongside.