HARLEM Eubank remains determined to prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, that he is a bona fide world-level contender at welterweight.
The 31-year-old extended his unblemished record against Tyrone McKenna last month, producing a polished performance before halting the battle-hardened veteran with a stunning tenth-round finish.
En route to his stoppage victory, which swiftly captivated his home supporters in Brighton, the slick mover twice floored his durable opponent in a truly dominant display.
Sure enough, Eubank, 21-0 (9 KOs), has now firmly established himself as a local attraction in the South Coast of England while, at the same time, showcasing his skills to a far wider audience on Channel 5.
With no interest in stalling his progression, either, the Bightonian now looks to test his potential against a proven operator at world level.
Former undisputed title challenger Jack Catterall, on the one hand, has emerged as a possible opponent, with the tricky southpaw undoubtedly representing a stern challenge for Eubank.
Despite losing a razor-thin split decision to Arnold Barboza Jr in his last outing, the 31-year-old has previously shown, against the likes of Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis, that he possesses a refined and versatile skill set.
Catterall, 30-2 (13 KOs), is, of course, yet to make the jump up to 147lbs, though one can only suspect that he would take to the higher division like a duck to water.
In any case, it would appear that ‘El Gato,’ promoted by Matchroom Boxing, is sitting alongside a more enigmatic combatant near the top of Eubank’s hit list
“I’ve been training hard, so I’m ready and waiting for a big fight to be delivered,” Eubank told Boxing News.
“I think [my performance against McKenna] showed everyone that I’m ready to compete at world level. I’m ready to challenge for world titles, and they’re the type of fights I’m looking to make next.
“I’m looking at fighting this summer. We’ve called for [the Catterall fight], and there’s been positive talks from either side, so now we’re waiting for an offer [from Matchroom] and hopefully that offer resembles the type of challenge and fighter that Jack Catterall is.
“There’s also talks of a big fighter from the US coming over to Brighton, so it’s exciting either way. Ideally, we’d like to fight a former world champion.”
While this potential American opponent remains a mystery, it could be said that, with Eubank looking to climb the IBF rankings, Alexis Rocha may represent a possible option.
A win over the fifth-ranked contender would, after all, present Eubank with a clear route towards his dream of reaching world honours.
