Abuja – English boxer Chris Eubank Jr has vacated the British middleweight title, pulling out of his fight against Tommy Langford after a “severe’’ elbow injury.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Eubank was set to make a second defence of his title on Oct. 22 in Cardiff.
However, the 27-year-old’s team said in a statement that he was hurt while sparring with a “14-stone opponent’’ on Thursday.
The statement added that the injury has been verified by a British Boxing Board of Control doctor.
Meanwhile, a rescheduled date has yet to be announced.
Langford, who is unbeaten, can still fight for the title against another opponent on Oct. 22, with a statement expected from fight promoter Frank Warren.
Writing on social media in a reaction, the boxer said he was “extremely disappointed’’ and called Eubank Jr a “time-waster’’.
But Eubank Jr’s team described his injury as a “blessing in disguise’’ due to a “vast chasm’’ between their fighter and recent challengers.
In claiming the title from Nick Blackwell in March, Eubank Jr was ordered by his father and trainer Chris Eubank Sr to avoid hitting his opponent in the head.
This was before the fight was stopped.
Blackwell suffered a bleed on his skull and was subsequently put into an induced coma, and he has since retired from the sport.
“There has not been a fighter in the history of British boxing who has had such a vast chasm of fighting prowess between him and the contenders for the British Championship in ability, speed, strength, accuracy and skill,’’ the Eubank Jr team statement added.
“The relinquishing of the British Championship due to injury sustained in a sparring session is perhaps a blessing in disguise.
“Chris Eubank Jnr’s management team will use the injury as an opportunity to step aside and fight high-calibre world competition.’’
Eubank Jr had been expected to vacate the belt before the Langford fight was organised, with a world title bout against Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan rumoured to be close.
This was however before Briton Kell Brook was announced as Golovkin’s challenger.
Brook moved up two weight divisions to face Golovkin, but was stopped in five rounds on Sept. 10.