Ben Shalom insists Conor Benn’s financial demands were a key obstacle to finalizing his fight with Chris Eubank Jr.

Shalom, Eubank Jr’s promoter, is in negotiations with Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn to secure a realigned showdown between the British rivals.

The pair were scheduled to meet in October 2022, but the catchweight bout was postponed until fight week after Benn failed a drug test.

“The Destroyer” was released by National Anti-Doping Panelwho lifted the suspension, after which negotiations resumed for a pointed fight with Eubank Jr, as a result of which Benn jumped two weight classes to middleweight.

The main point of contention apparently was the financial demands of both players, with Benn’s team demanding a 50-50 split.

Shalom said last month that he convinced Eubank Jr. to accept a 55-45 split in his favor, and the BOXXER promoter claims that Benn is demanding whatever amount Anthony Joshua will be able to make.

“Getting Conor to understand that he is not Anthony Joshua,” Shalom said The boxing scene.

“I think Conor needs to be talked into some sense.

“If it was Chris Eubank Jr three or four years ago, probably when he was more hotheaded, he actually took a pretty reasonable, mature approach to this whole thing.

“I really believe in it. It’s just about getting the other side to do it too. I think it will be implemented.”

Shalom said Professional boxing fans on Wednesday that the two sides are close to reaching an agreement, and if an agreement is reached, the fight is expected to take place in April.

A fight with WBA middleweight Erislandy Lara has been lined up for Eubank Jr in case a deal falls through, while his Essex counterpart is likely to aim for a meeting with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios if he is unable to face the fighter from Brighton.

“I think it will happen as long as no one does something stupid,” Shalom told professional boxing fans.

“We are now in the home phase.

“It’s like the last 100m, unless someone does something crazy, they should cross the finish line, but it has to be now because Lara is in line.

“All conditions have been described. Nobody wants to wait and everyone is ready to act.

“We know where the event will take place. We know it will take place in the UK.

“The framework is already in place and now it’s just a matter of finishing it.”

The 2025 British Boxing Championships will be held at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield on Saturday evening, with the main event being the defense of Callum Simpson, from nearby Barnsley, in the British and Commonwealth super middleweight title against Steed Woodall.

Ben Shalom’s BOXXER promotes the Simpson vs. Woodall fight and Heavenly sports was broadcast live on television in the UK and the fight was available on Peacock in the US.

Simpson (15-0, 10 KO) flourished under the BOXXER banner, and points scored over ten rounds against Boris Crighton and Jose de Jesus Macias opened the way to a shot at the British and Commonwealth belts.

The 28-year-old got this chance at the stadium of his beloved Barnsley football club.

Simpson proved too good for Zak Chelli and scored massive to win the pair of titles on offer last August.

Now his opponent will be Woodall (19-2-1, 12 KO), “The Stallion”, who comes from Birmingham.

The 30-year-old took part in campaigns in America and Panama at the beginning of his career, and after beating the aforementioned Crighton over eight rounds in April 2023, he gave Padraig McCrory a decent argument before losing on points over ten rounds four months later.

Woodall picked up the best win of his career when he stopped Lerrone Richards in six rounds in an upset in Bolton to claim the WBO Intercontinental super middleweight crown last June.

Prediction: Simpson is a viable prospect to watch this year and I think he will outperform Woodall, but most likely based on the scorecards.

Dubois defends his world title for the first time

On the card, Caroline Dubois defends her WBC lightweight title for the first time against Canadian Jessica Camara.

Dubois (10-0, 5 KO) was already an IBO champion and added the WBC interim belt to her collection last August, winning every round over Maira Moneo.

She was then elevated to full champion after leaving Katie Taylor.

Camara (14-4, 3 KO) is a former world title contender, and last April she won a split decision over undefeated former world champion Hyun Mi Choi.

Prediction: Dubois will be looking to showcase her talents here, and considering Camara has had three stoppages in four losses, Dubois could make her presence felt with a win on schedule.

Undercard remaining

Cruiserweight prospect Scott Forrest (6-0, 3 KO) can stop Deevorn Miller (8-2, 6 KO).

The only fighter in the eighth round is in the featherlight heavyweight division, and Billy Deniz (12-0, 5 KO) will probably need the distance to win against Mickey Ellison (15-7, 5 KO).

In the six-round middleweight division, Sam Hickey (1-0) should score against Lewis Howells (3-1), and Mauro Silva (6-0, 3 KO) could do the same against Emmanuel Zion (6-2, 3) KO).

Ellis Price (1-0) should secure a four-round points victory over lightweight debutant Liam Fitzmauric.

The Australia vs Novel Zealand match will take place next Wednesday at the Gold Coast Convention Center in Broadbeach, with Jai Opetaia defending his IBF cruiserweight title against former amateur standout David Nyika.

Eddie HearnMatchroom Boxing, Mick Francis’ Tasman Fighters and Spencer Brown’s Goldstar are promoting the Opetaia vs Nyika fight with DAZN TV live around the world.

Opetaia (26-0, 20 KO) came of age in July 2022 when he unexpectedly but brilliantly scored a victory over Mairis Briedis to claim the IBF crown, before making one defense against Jordan Thompson at Wembley Arena a year later.

The 29-year-old southpaw was then stripped of his title after opting to face the defeated Ellis Zorro in overdue 2023, and the IBF proved him right when the Briton was ousted in less than a round in Riyad.

The Australian was given a chance to fight for the vacant title in a fight later, and in the rematch with Breidis, Opetaia emerged victorious, again with a breathtaking unanimous verdict.

The Australian was last knocked out in October 2024, beating Jack Massey before a Massey corner threw in the towel in round six.

Now he meets Novel Zealander Nyika (10-0, 9 KO), a two-time Commonwealth Games champion and an Olympic bronze medalist as an amateur.

He made significant progress as a professional, going the distance only once.

The 28-year-old has seven straight early wins, most recently a third-round stoppage against former world title challenger Tommy Karpency in Auckland in September.

Prediction: I think Nyika will give Opetaia a decent argument here, despite her lack of professional experience. However, I think Opetaia will retain her belt, which will probably show on the scorecards.

Huni will face Potgieter

On the undercard, hopeful Justis Huni will defend his WBO Global and IBF Pan Pacific titles against Shaun Potgieter in the scheduled top ten.

Huni (11-0, 6 KO) is a man who is making waves and already has decision victories over Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerena, and his last fight will take place last month, after two rounds against Leandro Daniel Robutti.

South Africa’s Potgeiter (10-1, 7 KO) has seven straight wins and is the South African champion, but has never fought outside his home country.

prediction: Huni has been impressive so far and could continue his good run with a win after the break.

Undercard remaining

Max McIntyre (6-0, 5 KO) can win the vacant IBF Youth super middleweight title by defeating Abdulselam Saman (8-1, 1 KO), and Ben Mahoney (14-0-1, 8 KO) can win the vacant title IBF Pan Pacific super welterweight title by the same method against Fan Zhang (8-2-1, 5 KO).

In the remaining ten rounds, Tayla Gentzen (6-0, 3 KO) should score points against Shauna Browne (4-0, 3 KO), and in the only eighth round, Tony Ingram (6-0, 3 KO) could beat Runqi Zhou (8- 2-1, 3 KOs).

Exhilarating heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana (5-0, 5 KO) has an advantage over the scheduled six and should win early against Osasu Otobo (11-1-1, 5 KO).

In four rounds, lithe heavyweight newcomer Billy McAllister (2-0, 2 KO) can claim a victory over Jordan Towns (2-2, 1 KO), and Kodi Shallali (1-1) can claim a victory over Albert Tu’ua (1- 1).

Jai Williams can win the battle of debutants with Jag Guthmann-Chester on points.