Eubank Jr vs Yildirim Set For October 7 In Stuttgart

The battle for the inaugural 168lb (76,2 kg) Muhammad Ali Trophy comes to Stuttgart, Germany on October 7 when IBO-Champion Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1-0, 19 KOs) meets Turkish Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs) in a quarter-final bout at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle.

“The Muhammad Ali Trophy is a great idea and I am thrilled to be a part of the World Boxing Super Series,” said 27-year old Eubank Jr.

“I don’t mind about fighting in Germany. I honestly don’t mind where I fight. I could be fighting in a phone box. It really doesn’t matter to me as long as I get the win that’s all I care about.”

The British third seed was represented by Chris Eubank Senior at the Draft Gala in Monaco July 8 and the boxing legend chose the upcoming Turk as his son’s or Arthur Abraham’s quarter-final opponent in the World Boxing Super Series. Eubanks Jr. won the WBSS slot by outpointing the German veteran at the Wembley Arena July 15.

The fight against Abraham went the distance, but against Yildirim Eubank eyes an opportunity to settle the match earlier.

“Yildirim’s chin hasn’t been tested, I will test it to the absolute limit and if it has even the slightest bit of weakness he won’t last six rounds,” said Eubank Jr.

26-year old Avni Yildirim from Istanbul, Turkey is excited about fighting in Stuttgart.

“I am very happy that the fight is in Stuttgart because for me it is like a second Turkey,” said Yildirim. “Training is going great, I know what I have to do. I have been training really hard already, I am fully focused on this. Chris should be too.”

The Turkish fighter is anything but impressed by the news on Eubank Jr. joining Floyd Mayweather’s training camp in the US ahead of the American’s fight with Conor McGregor.

“What is Chris going to learn there, apart from hide-and-seek? I like Mayweather, he is a special guy. But Eubank is not Mayweather. Seriously, what is he going to learn from a welterweight, to run away for 12 rounds? The fans want a fight, I want a fight! If he is man enough, me versus Chris will be a good fight.”