Chris Eubank Jr’s return is now “so close,” as talks accelerate toward a fight with Michael Zerafa, according to his prospective opponent.
The long-discussed matchup, which has been under discussion for several weeks, now sees both sides indicating the bout is moving toward completion.
Zerafa has now given WBN the clearest signal yet of how far negotiations have progressed.
“It’s moving quickly now and we’re pushing to get it done,” Zerafa told World Boxing News, before adding the fight is now “so close” to being agreed.
The confidence from Zerafa’s side is now being matched by signals from Eubank’s team, with his manager Elliot Amoakoh previously confirming genuine interest in taking the fight to Australia.
Return taking shape
It’s both a surprising and unsurprising development at the same time for Eubank, who is expected to move up to 168 pounds for the first time since 2019.
At that stage, the Brighton man decided to drop back down to middleweight — his ideal weight, he said at the time — when on the verge of a world title shot.
World Boxing News covered ringside as Eubank scored the best victory of his career against James DeGale on ITV Box Office before linking up with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions and moving to Las Vegas permanently.
That deal sparked his now former run at 160 pounds, which ended badly in an exhaustive defeat to Conor Benn after a shocking battle with the scales.
The move back up is less about ambition and more about necessity at this stage of Eubank’s career.
Weight questions
Losing two of his nine bouts in the division, Eubank again failed to land a world title shot and now moves back up tentatively against Zerafa, who himself is not a super middleweight.
For his last bout in January, Zerafa’s no contest with Nikita Tszyu saw him scale only 157 pounds, something WBN understands could now lead to a catchweight agreement for the proposed collision.
Momentum turns to reality
Summer dates are now actively being discussed, with Eubank’s manager seemingly happy with the direction the negotiations are moving, as both camps now appear openly aligned.
The situation has moved beyond early talks and into the final stages of negotiation.
Barring a disaster, the fight is now expected to get over the line.
Once concluded, Eubank would compete Down Under for the first time, with a world title shot against Canelo a firm possibility for the summer of 2027 in the UK if victorious.
Canelo is chasing another world championship on September 12 against one of the 168-pound titleholders, and if the Mexican superstar regains a crown, defending against Eubank at Wembley or Tottenham Stadium remains a solid option that has been on the table for years.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. His work is distributed across major platforms, including Apple News. Read full bio.
