Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Sports

Chris Eubank Jr in talks for ‘fire fight’ but wants opponent to make a catchweight

Published

on

Chris Eubank Jr’s return to the ring seems to be edging ever closer.

Eubank’s rivalry with Conor Benn dominated 2025. He won the first fight but lost the second convincingly, leading many fans to questions whether or not retirement was on the cards. Following treatment in hospital for an undisclosed health condition, the 36-year-old is now plotting a comeback.

According to Chris Mannix, that could come against Edgar Berlanga. Speaking on the DAZN broadcast for Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez’ unification bout this past weekend in Arizona, he revealed ongoing discussions.

Advertisement

“Edgar Berlanga has been sorting through what he’s going to do in his next fight, but I’ve been told there are plans in the works to bring Edgar back in the first half of this year. An interesting fight has been discussed with Team Berlanga, and that is a potential showdown with Chris Eubank Jr.

“[Eubank] is moving back up in weight, and they have discussed a fight … What is holding up those talks is the weight. Eubank Jr, I’m told, wants the fight at 164 pounds. Berlanga says I can’t go any lower than 168. Can they work it out? I don’t know, but that’s a big fight.”

Supporting the report, Berlanga – who has lost to Canelo on points and, more recently, Hamzah Sheeraz by stoppage – took to X to talk the fight up.

Fans may be surprised at Eubank’s desire for a catchweight over a straight move to super-middleweight, particularly given his documented struggles making 160 for the two Conor Benn fights. However, the rehydration of only 10lbs may have been the real test in those stadium bouts, and there would be no such clause this time around.

Advertisement

The Brit’s team may also be thinking about the catchweight as more of a disadvantage to Berlanga – who has fought at 168 since 2020 – rather than an advantage for their man.

Whatever the reason, it seems Berlanga will not budge on the 4lbs.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

Ryan Blaney bows down to Tyler Reddick amid 23XI drivers’ flying start to 2026 NASCAR campaign: “He just goes faster”

Published

on

Tyler Reddick continued his dominant start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series with his fourth win of the season at Darlington, drawing praise from rivals, including Ryan Blaney. The 23XI Racing driver has been the benchmark early in the year, and his latest performance in the Goodyear 400 only reinforced that.

Reddick sits at the top of the NASCAR standings with 325 points. He has led the most laps (189) this season, secured three poles, and hasn’t finished beyond 13th so far. Across track types, the No. 45 Toyota has consistently shown speed that others have struggled to match.

Ryan Blaney, who sits second in the standings, admitted that he has no clear answer to Reddick’s pace advantage. When asked what sets the 23XI driver apart, he said:

Advertisement

“I don’t know. He just goes faster… I wish I could point something out, but he’s just faster. And Tyler is an amazing racecar driver. Always has been. And they’ve got it going on over there right now. And momentum is a big thing. Once they find something, it’s a big thing. And pair that with a really good team, really good race car driver, you’re going to get this stuff.” (2:55 onwards)

youtube-cover

Tyler Reddick’s Darlington win highlighted that advantage. Despite dealing with an alternator issue in the opening stretch, running without his cooling system, and dropping back after a battery change, he still drove through the field. His pace on long runs allowed him to erase a late deficit and pass Brad Keselowski for the win.

Even within his own team, the performance stood out. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, admitted that the No. 45 had an edge in every phase of the corner.

“He was faster on the entry, the middle and the exit. I do not know. I’ll study it and try to learn something from it because clearly they got it figured out,” he said via FOX.

Keselowski, who finished second, pointed to both car performance and execution:

“Tyler is a great driver. You shouldn’t take anything away from that. But they’re clearly up on horsepower and downforce right now, and he’s making that count. So he deserves a lot of credit.”

Ryan Blaney, meanwhile, was one of the big performers of the Goodyear 400 behind Tyler Reddick, turning his own race into a recovery drive to a third-place finish.

Advertisement

Ryan Blaney recovers from setbacks to secure strong Darlington finish behind Tyler Reddick

Ryan Blaney (12) and Tyler Reddick (12) - NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400. Source: GettyRyan Blaney (12) and Tyler Reddick (12) - NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400. Source: Getty
Ryan Blaney (12) and Tyler Reddick (12) – NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400. Source: Getty

Ryan Blaney’s race was defined by execution swings rather than pace limitations. After starting seventh, he moved early and finished Stage 1 in third, challenging at the front. However, a pit road penalty between stages dropped him deep in the field.

The No. 12 Team Penske responded with steady progress through Stage 2, climbing back to 12th. Another issue on pit road later in the race again shuffled him to the back, but Blaney worked his way forward again.

“I’m proud of us keeping our head down all day and finishing where we did. I thought the 45 (Tyler Reddick) was probably the best guy by a little bit, and then I thought me and the 6 (Brad Keselowski) were pretty kind of close right behind him. I think the three of us were kind of the class of the field, and us three finished top three. So, I was just happy,” he said post race. (onwards)

The result moved Ryan Blaney up to second in the standings with 230 points. The series now heads to Martinsville Speedway, a track where Blaney has historically been strong, while Tyler Reddick is still searching for his first win.