Negotiations to bring Chris Eubank Jr. to Nigeria for a December bout are reportedly moving forward at a comfortable pace, according to Ezekiel Adamu, the founder of Balmoral Promotions.
The British middle‑weight made a trip to the West African nation back in June, using the visit as an opportunity to weigh his options after a loss to Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last November. Adamu has long expressed a desire to host some of the United Kingdom’s biggest boxing names – Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma – on Nigerian soil, but he acknowledges that the most realistic short‑term objective is to secure Eubank Jr. as a headline attraction.
The promoter recently welcomed the son of former champion Chris Eubank Sr. to Nigeria, and the younger Eubank was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd as he walked through the bustling streets of Mushin.
Although the upcoming event in Lagos on Friday will feature local favorite Taiwo Agbaje against South Africa’s Ayabonga Sonjika, as well as a WBO Africa cruiserweight title clash between champion Godday Appah and Lekan Muibi, Adamu’s focus remains firmly on the 36‑year‑old Brit. "Chris is as big as it gets for us," Adamu told the Press Association. "We've hosted major stars before, but getting Chris here was truly an emotional moment for me." He added that talks are already underway for a December showdown, noting, "We’re still negotiating, but the process is coming along nicely." The promoter explained that the trip was necessary to introduce Eubank to the local boxing ecosystem, meet key officials, secure government backing, and line up sponsors who would underwrite the event. "Those are the exciting times ahead," he said.
Eubank has previously described himself as a "free agent," yet promoter Ben Shalom has suggested the fighter is tied to a long‑term deal with the Boxxer promotion group. Sky Sports News has reached out to Boxxer for comment but has not yet received a response.
The conversation about high‑profile fights in Nigeria does not stop with Eubank. In December, Lawrence Okolie appeared on a Balmoral Promotions card, and Adamu has spoken with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing about the possibility of bringing Joshua to the country. Those talks were interrupted when the former two‑time heavyweight champion was involved in a car accident in Nigeria at the close of 2025. Looking further ahead, Adamu says his roster of potential opponents is expanding.
"We’re in talks with Deontay Wilder because he recently discovered his Nigerian heritage and is eager to fight here," he explained. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Michael Ofo, with the aim of eventually staging a bout featuring Fabio Wardley, and noted that Daniel Dubois is another name on the shortlist. "The options are endless for African boxing, and at some point we’ll see these match‑ups become a reality," he added. Adamu highlighted the growing appeal of the continent for heavyweight and middleweight talent alike.
"We’ve already had Lawrence Okolie and Tony Yoka compete here, and we hope Chris Eubank Jr. will join that list later this year.
The future looks very promising for boxing across Africa," he concluded. In summary, the groundwork for a December fight featuring Chris Eubank Jr.
in Nigeria appears to be solidifying, with negotiations proceeding smoothly, local enthusiasm running high, and a broader strategy to attract more world‑class fighters to the region. If the current momentum continues, Nigerian fans could soon witness a marquee bout that would elevate the nation’s profile on the global boxing stage.