Super middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. will face JJ McDonagh in the reserve match for the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight tournament final on Sept. 28 at The Indoor Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, WBSS officials announced Tuesday night.
Eubank-McDonagh is a scheduled 10-round fight that will take pace on the undercard of the 168-pound tournament final between world titleholder George Groves and British countryman Callum Smith. If either Groves or Smith is unable to compete in the final, Eubank would take his position and have a chance to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy that will be awarded to the tournament winner.
Eubank (26-2, 20 KOs), 29, of England, was part of the eight-man tournament field, knocking out Avni Yildirim in the third round of the quarterfinals 11 months ago and then losing a unanimous decision to Groves in the semifinals.
“I have been training hard in [Las] Vegas, and I am looking be a part of the event in Jeddah,” Eubank said. “I am preparing for any scenario that may present itself.”
JJ McDonagh (16-4, 8 KOs), 32, a southpaw from Ireland, is taking a massive step up in opposition against Eubank. McDonagh turned pro in 2009 and has faced extremely low-level opposition.
“I’m surprised he did not retire after he embarrassed himself against Groves,” McDonagh said. “Eubank is a fit man but he does not know how to fight hard. I’m a fighting man from a fighting family of generations of fighters. I am going to knock him out.”
Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), 30, will be making his third title defense when he faces Smith (24-0, 17 KOs), 28, in the final that has been delayed since June 2, when it was supposed to take place at the O2 Arena in London but postponed because Groves suffered a shoulder injury his semifinal victory over Eubank Jr. on Feb. 2.