Chris Eubank Jr. performance." With the win, Eubank advanced into the World Boxing Super Series, where he could potentially meet WBA 'super' champion George Groves in the semi-finals. On 7 July 2017, the World Boxing Super Series announced the winner of Abraham and Eubank would be taking part in the super-middleweight knockout tournament. At the Draft Gala in Monte Carlo on 8 July, Chris Eubank Sr., who represented both Abraham and Eubank picked undefeated Turkish contender Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs). The fight was confirmed following Eubank's lop-sided win over Abraham. Promoter Kalle Sauerland said official confirmation of a venue and date would
World Boxing Organization champions Michael Moorer, Riddick Bowe, and Henry Akinwande relinquishing the title to pursue other options. Boxing publication "The Ring" also did not recognize the WBO, despite having recognized the IBF after its inception in 1983, five years prior to the WBO. In the lighter weight divisions, however, long-reigning champions during the 1990s such as Chris Eubank, Dariusz Michalczewski, Johnny Tapia, and Naseem Hamed gave the WBO title increasingly more prestige. The WBO was also made popular by boxers such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Nigel Benn, Ronald "Winky" Wright, Joe Calzaghe, and Wladimir Klitschko, all of whom