Boxing EXCLUSIVE: Eubank Jr admits uncertainty over ITV deal amid HUGE claim about channel
CHRIS EUBANK JR believes ITV want him as their “flagship fighter”, but is unsure whether his next fight will even be on the resurgent platform.
Eubank Jr faces James DeGale this Saturday on ITV Box Office in a super middleweight grudge match at the O2 Arena.
It is the Brightonian’s sixth consecutive fight on the station which broadcast so many of his legendary father’s bouts in the 1990s.
Enigmatic boxing promoter Al Haymon announced a three-year deal with the channel for his company, Premier Boxing Champions, in December.
DeGale vs Eubank Jr is the first box-office event since the announcement, and the latter told Express Sport in January that he has been identified as a poster boy for the broadcaster.
“They chased me to be their flagship fighter from the very beginning,” he said.
“They wanted me to push the channel, fight on the channel, to get the ITV Box Office platform the exposure that they needed.”
After years out the game while Sky Sports and BT Sport have formed somewhat of a duopoly in British boxing, ITV has taken time to re-establish itself.
“It’s a very new platform but they’re learning,” Eubank Jr added.
[ITV] chased me to be their flagship fighter from the very beginning
“They’re getting things done and they’re making exciting fights. The future is very bright.”
Eubank Sr believes Saturday’s fight is a one-off shot for future pay-per-view pedigree in his son’s career, not that the 29-year-old is sure if he has an obligation to fight on the channel, though.
When probed on the nature of his relationship with ITV, Eubank Jr said to Express Sport: “Have I got a contract [with ITV]? I’m not actually sure if the contract I have stipulates that I’m to fight every time on ITV.
“But there may be a possibility I fight in the States at some point this year.
“So I don’t know if that would be able to be broadcast directly on ITV.
“But I think that if I do stay in England I’m fairly confident that my fights will be on ITV for the foreseeable future this year.”