Nick Blackwell vs. Chris Eubank Jr.: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
If at first you don't succeed at winning the British middleweight title, try again. That's clearly Chris Eubank Jr.'s (21-1, 16 KO) motto as he prepares to take on current champion Nick Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KO) on Saturday at Wembley Arena in London.
Eubank lost a split decision to then-champion Billy Joe Saunders back in November 2014. Saunders has since vacated the title, and Blackwell took control of it with a seventh-round TKO victory over John Ryder in May 2015.
It was a fight Blackwell was losing before he caught an overzealous Ryder with a hard counter right hand. Blackwell followed it up with a barrage of punches to earn the TKO victory. Ryder was hurt, but many believe the stoppage from referee Howard John Foster was premature.
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In any case, Blackwell was crowned British middleweight champion, and he's since defended the title twice.
The active champion will have a significant challenge on his hands on Saturday when he faces the second-generation contender, who is hungry for his own title.
Here's the viewing information for the bout:
When: Saturday, March 26, 10 p.m. GMT (6 p.m. ET)
Where: Wembley Arena, London
TV: Channel 5 (UK)
Live Stream: SkyGo (UK—subscription required)
Last Time Out and Looking Ahead
Eubank Jr. Must Seize the Time
Since losing to Saunders, Eubank has run roughshod through every opponent he's faced. He's on a three-fight win streak, and that includes a one-sided beating of Gary O'Sullivan in December 2015. The fight ended when O'Sullivan was forced to retire after the seventh round.
It was a good win, but quite honestly, O'Sullivan isn't on Eubank's level.
It's time for the 26-year-old remove the training wheels and start to set his sights on top-ranked middleweights outside of Europe. Eubank gave Saunders everything he could handle. If he wins the British title, which is a huge honor for any UK fighter, there would be no reason for him not to challenge the likes of Danny Jacobs or even lineal champion Gennady Golovkin in his next few bouts.
Per a press release from Hennessy (via World Boxing News), Eubank has said Blackwell won't hear the final bell. If his prediction proves true, the win will be a great launching pad toward a shot at a world title.
Per Nick Lustig of Sky Sports, Eubank says he believes a fight with Jacobs is coming soon. He said: "There's a lot of politics, but the fight will happen within the next year or six months. That is my dream, to become a world middleweight champion and Jacobs is the man they are going to put in front of me and he's not going to get in my way."
Right now, Blackwell is the man in his way. Disposing of him must be Eubank's top concern.
Out for Respect
Blackwell had to hear the criticism of his win over Ryder. He was being outboxed most of the fight before his clutch performance in the seventh round. Perhaps that's why he's been so active since winning the title.
The fighting champion looks to be out to prove he deserves to wear British gold.
In his last fight, Blackwell scored a lopsided unanimous-decision win over Jack Arnfield. Like O'Sullivan to Eubank. Arnfield was overmatched in the ring with the champion.
Blackwell is a high-motor, high-effort fighter who always brings his best effort.
His skill level is fairly high, but normally he lacks the power to finish opponents. The come-from-behind performance against Ryder was an exception. To beat Eubank, Blackwell must find a way to make him respect his power.
If he cannot, it could be a long evening.
Prediction
While Blackwell has solid skills and exceptional heart, Eubank is the kind of fighter who can drain the energy of an opponent with his will. The only way to circumvent that power is to display superior movement and skills.
That's how Saunders got the best of him.
Blackwell is a good boxer, but he won't outclass Eubank. By the fourth round, Eubank will begin to impose his will with pressure.
By the seventh round, Blackwell will be set to break. Look for someone in Blackwell's corner or the referee to rescue him from a mauling as he loses his title via TKO.
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