Chris Eubank Jr in talks to box hard-hitting foe with 17 first-round knockouts

Chris Eubank Jr is reportedly in talks to face Edgar Berlanga in his first fight since a crushing defeat to Conor Benn.

The Brighton boxer looked like a shadow of his former self last time out in November as he was dropped twice in the 12th and final round en route to a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Benn.

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Eubank Jr insinuated that his dismal display had stemmed from difficulties with making the 160lbs middleweight limit, as well as a subsequent 10lbs rehydration clause.

His promoter, Ben Shalom, has since confirmed Eubank Jr’s intention to launch a comeback in the second half of 2026 at a higher weight.

The expectation is that his return to the ring will fall somewhere between September and November.

Discussions are underway with former super middleweight world title challenger Edgar Berlanga, but the proposed weight is holding up talks.

That is according to esteemed boxing journalist Chris Mannix, who told the DAZN broadcast on Saturday: “Edgar Berlanga has been sorting through what he’s going to do in his next fight.

“But I’ve been told there are plans in the works to bring Edgar back in the first half of this year.

“An interesting fight has been discussed with Team Berlanga, and that is a potential showdown with Chris Eubank Jr.

“[Eubank] is moving back up in weight, and they have discussed a fight…

“What is holding up those talks is the weight. Eubank Jr, I’m told, wants the fight at 164 pounds.

“Berlanga says I can’t go any lower than 168. Can they work it out? I don’t know, but that’s a big fight.”

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Edgar Berlanga’s recent form

Berlanga is very large for a super middleweight, typically walking around anywhere between 200 lbs and 210 lbs.

He even missed weight for his penultimate bout against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz last March.

Berlanga went on to blow away Gonzalez-Ortiz to record the 17th first-round knockout of his 23-2 career.

Berlanga famously compiled a 16-fight first-round knockout streak before he was eventually taken the distance by Demond Nicholson in his 17th fight.

He suffered the first defeat of his career to Canelo Alvarez in September 2024 when he challenged for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles.

His second setback came in his last outing to Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz, who dispatched the Puerto Rican-American inside five rounds.

Boxing schedule

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