Promoter Eddie Hearn has shared his candid thoughts on a potential blockbuster domestic clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and former world champion Kell Brook, revealing that he previously explored the possibility of promoting the matchup himself before walking away due to financial and strategic concerns.
The Matchroom Boxing boss made headlines back in September when he disclosed that he had held direct discussions with Eubank Jr. The veteran promoter was looking to secure the signature of the 37-year-old star to promote his highly anticipated comeback fight. Having not stepped foot inside a professional boxing ring since November 2025, Eubank Jr. was reportedly receptive to those exploratory talks. However, the trajectory of his career has seemingly shifted back toward his established promotional home, with the British star now poised to extend his working relationship with Ben Shalom and Boxxer.
According to the Boxxer promoter, Hearn’s initial approach represented an interference with an existing contractual framework. Despite that promotional tug-of-war, developments have progressed rapidly behind the scenes. It now appears that Eubank Jr. has officially agreed to terms for a lucrative domestic showdown against former world champion Kell Brook. Shalom recently claimed that the pair are set to collide in an eagerly anticipated February event.
For Brook, the bout marks a dramatic return to the sport. The Sheffield-born fighter has not contested a professional boxing match since his career-defining sixth-round technical knockout victory over arch-rival Amir Khan back in February 2022. While a matchup between two marquee names of British boxing certainly carries immense commercial intrigue and nostalgic appeal, Hearn remains heavily skeptical about the wisdom of the fight—both for Eubank Jr.’s career trajectory and for the financial health of the promoting stable backing it.
Speaking openly in an interview with IFL TV, Hearn explained that rather than committing to a bout against a 40-year-old opponent who has been inactive for four years, he would have strongly preferred to see Eubank Jr. campaign seriously in the super-middleweight division. In Hearn’s view, the ideal path
for the Brighton-born fighter would have been to position himself for a legitimate world title shot at 168lbs, rather than engaging in a high-risk, domestic grudge match that offers limited upward mobility in the world rankings.
Recalling his private conversations with the fighter during their autumn meetings, Hearn shed light on how the matchup first crossed his desk. "When I spoke to Eubank, he told me that was a fight that had been offered. And he said, ‘Would you be interested in looking at it?’" Hearn told IFL TV.
Intrigued by the proposition, Hearn investigated the financial viability of putting the event together. This process included holding direct talks with Kell Brook’s father and team to gauge their commercial demands. "So I had a conversation with Kell’s dad about it, and I was saying to him, ‘What’s the money? How much money would you want for it?’" Hearn continued.
Having uncovered the financial figures required to make the fight a reality, Hearn was left stunned by the economic reality of the purses involved. He suggested that the commercial return on investment for Boxxer would fall drastically short of covering the massive costs required to stage such an event. "Now that I know the money that’s being offered to those guys, they [Boxxer] are going to do their absolute b***ocks on that fight," Hearn remarked, predicting a heavy financial loss for the promoters.
Hearn reiterated that from a purely sporting perspective, the fight represents a missed opportunity for Eubank Jr. to cement a legacy at the elite championship level. "If I was Eubank, I’d be making a run at 168lbs properly, not fighting Kell Brook," he added.
The rumored February showdown arrives at a fascinating crossroads in Eubank Jr.’s storied career. The British middleweight endured a demanding and eventful campaign throughout 2025, highlighted by a high-profile two-fight domestic series against career rival Conor Benn. Their first encounter, which took place earlier in 2025, saw Eubank Jr. put on a clinical boxing display to secure a decisive victory via a unanimous decision from the ringside judges.
However, the rivalry demanded a sequel, and the subsequent rematch later that year proved to be a starkly different affair. In the second installment of their heated series, Eubank Jr. suffered a comprehensive and wide points defeat against Benn, a setback that temporarily halted his momentum and forced him to reevaluate his standing in the division.
While a clash against a decorated former champion like Kell Brook offers undeniable entertainment value for British fight fans, the commercial and sporting debates surrounding the matchup continue to grow. As Ben Shalom and Boxxer push forward toward finalizing the February date, the boxing community waits to see whether the high-stakes gamble pays off, or if Eddie Hearn’s financial warnings turn out to be prophetic.
