Chris Eubank Jr in talks to face former UFC champion in first fight since Conor Benn loss

Chris Eubank Jr is currently in negotiations to face former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, according to a Nigerian promoter.

Dr Ezekiel Adamu of Balmoral Promotions recently invited Eubank Jr over to the West African nation to discuss the possibility of him headlining in Lagos.

Eubank Jr, 36, hasn’t set foot in the ring since suffering a lopsided unanimous decision defeat to fierce rival Conor Benn in a rematch last November.

He and his team have been weighing up their options after Eubank Jr announced that he had entered free agency in May.

His assertion has been adamantly denied by BOXXER’s Ben Shalom, who claims Eubank Jr is still under contract with the British promotional outfit.

Regardless, Eubank Jr’s handlers are pressing on in the hopes of securing the former world title challenger a fight before the year is out.

Usman is among the possible dance partners, with Adamu recently revealing to Boxing King Media that there have been genuine talks with ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’.

Conversations have, however, begun to stall in recent days.

Talks ongoing between Chris Eubank Jr and Kamaru Usman

“Chris coming here is a huge one, but it has to be proper global storytelling,” said Adamu.

“The opponent we had for him, I will say to you.

“What we wanted to put together was Kamaru Usman vs Chris Eubank Jr.

“We had a conversation with Kamaru Usman before his last fight [with Dricus Du Plessis] to see how we can put it on.

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“But after his fight, I think he has changed the goalposts and started saying something else.

“We are still in negotiations, and if we can’t get it over the line then we will find another one.

“But the story of Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamaru was a perfect one.

“The brands are ready, the government is ready to do it.

“We are still in conversations, and hopefully we can get that one over the line.”

It remains unclear how many fights Usman has left on his UFC contract, although his unanimous decision defeat to Dricus Du Plessis earlier this month in Oklahoma City seemingly ends all hopes of a run at the middleweight title.

The 39-year-old held the UFC welterweight strap for three years between 2019 and 2022 before he was dethroned by a brutal knockout loss to Leon Edwards.

He is now 1-4 in his last five outings under the UFC banner.

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