Gennady Golovkin vs Chris Eubank Jr: Promoter Eddie Hearn reveals deal is close to being signed

Eddie Hearn is on the cusp of agreeing a deal for Chris Eubank Jr to face Gennady Golovkin later this year. The British promoter revealed he expects a deal to be concluded later this week for the fighters to meet in the ring, potentially at The O2 Arena, following Eubank Jr's one-sided win against Tom Doran on Saturday night (25 June).

Hearn described the unbeaten Kazakhstani knockout artist as the "most dangerous fighter on the planet", but insisted the Brit has no qualms about accepting the bout. Indeed, Eubank Jr called out the WBA Super, WBC and IBF world champion following his latest victory, while he has also engaged in some verbal jousting with Golovkin over social media.

"This is a fight that many people struggle to get their heads around, " Hearn, Eubank Jr's promoter, told Sky Sports. "You've got a young, upcoming, world-quality operator in Chris Eubank Jr, who is willing and prepared to take on the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world and the most dangerous fighter on the planet, in Gennady Golovkin.

"I am waiting for the Eubank to turn round and say, 'We're not serious, it's just for a bit of press and PR'. They are deadly serious and we took another major step to that fight now, and I believe this fight will be made this week, I really do."

Hearn said the much-discussed fight would be one of the biggest ever staged on British shores, as the Kazakhstani (35-0-0 (32 KOs)) is considered to be one of the best fighters on the planet. "It will be one of the biggest fights in this country and when was the last time a name like Golovkin came and defended three belts. It's unheard of and they (Eubanks) really believe they can win the fight," he said.

"I know they want the fight and I know Golovkin will take the fight. It will be my job in the next 48-72 hours to get that closed off and produce another huge event."

Hearn revealed he would like to stage the fight at London's Wembley Stadium, but admitted it would be difficult to arrange once the football season starts in August. "Wembley, the window of opportunity for us, is really April, May and June," he shared. "This is more suited to an O2 Arena, it is such a wonderful arena and we had another great event there at the weekend.

"Fingers crossed, as to get this over the line would be a major boost in the armoury of British boxing."