Chris Eubank Jr. admits that he bit “dirty” rival Liam Williams on Saturday.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
Chris Eubank Jr. admitted that he bit his opponent, Liam Willams, as the pair fought in Cardiff on Saturday night.
Eubank was the clear winner over the Welshman after years of bad blood between the two, with the 32-year-old Englishman levelling accusations that Williams, 29, was a dirty fighter.
Eubank won 116-109, 116-108 and 117-109 and sent his opponent to the canvas four times, but the referee was called upon to separate clinches time after time. Eubank claimed after the fight that Williams’ underhanded tactics forced him to bite his rival.
“We knew he was going to come dirty and try everything he could to take the fight to me, whether it was in or out of the rules of boxing,” he said after the bout.
“I’m upset the referee didn’t take a point for the amount of headlocks, headbutts and everything was going on. I actually had to bite him at one point
“I’ve never bitten anybody in the ring before. He squeezed his arm around his neck, his glove was kind of close to my mouth so I gave it a bite as hard as I could.
“If he’s going to fight dirty, I’m going to fight dirty. It is what it is, it was a fun fight.”
Chris Eubank Jr. admits that he bit “dirty” rival Liam Williams on Saturday.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
Chris Eubank Jr. admitted that he bit his opponent, Liam Willams, as the pair fought in Cardiff on Saturday night.
Eubank was the clear winner over the Welshman after years of bad blood between the two, with the 32-year-old Englishman levelling accusations that Williams, 29, was a dirty fighter.
Eubank won 116-109, 116-108 and 117-109 and sent his opponent to the canvas four times, but the referee was called upon to separate clinches time after time. Eubank claimed after the fight that Williams’ underhanded tactics forced him to bite his rival.
“We knew he was going to come dirty and try everything he could to take the fight to me, whether it was in or out of the rules of boxing,” he said after the bout.
“I’m upset the referee didn’t take a point for the amount of headlocks, headbutts and everything was going on. I actually had to bite him at one point
“I’ve never bitten anybody in the ring before. He squeezed his arm around his neck, his glove was kind of close to my mouth so I gave it a bite as hard as I could.
“If he’s going to fight dirty, I’m going to fight dirty. It is what it is, it was a fun fight.”
Chris Eubank Jr. puts Liam Williams down four times and won a wide decision Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.
Chris Eubank Jr. had no trouble with Liam Williams. Next up could be a shot at a world title.
Eubank put the normally rugged Williams down four times — thrice in the first four rounds — and won a wide decision in a 12-round middleweight bout in the loser’s home country of Wales.
The son of the former champion of the same name could next fight the winner of a tentative title-unification bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata, which would be his second opportunity to fight for a major belt.
The 32-year-old Englishman lost a decision to then-champion George Groves in 2018.
Chris Eubank Jr knocked down Liam Williams four times. Huw Fairclough / Getty Images
“I wanted to teach this man a lesson,” said Eubank, who had exchanged harsh words with Williams beforehand. “He said some very menacing things to me leading up to this fight and I wanted to punish him. … It was a fun night.”
Eubank (32-2, 23 KOs) put Williams (23-4-1, 18 KOs) down with a short left jab in Round 1, did it again with a right-left combination in Round 2 and did it one more time with another jab in Round 4.
At that point, it seemed a matter of time until Eubank finished off an overmatched opponent. However, Williams had other ideas.
The principals fought on roughly even terms in eight of the rounds. Eubank boxed and moved well but Williams was generally the one moving forward and he landed a number of clean, eye-catching punches.
The Welshman seemed to have climbed back into the fight until disaster struck one more time in Round 11, when what appeared on replays to be a push was ruled a fourth knockdown by the referee.
If Williams had any chance of winning the fight on the cards, it was no longer possible after that.
The final scores were lopsided: 116-109, 116-108 and 117-109, all in Eubank’s favor. Boxing Junkie scored it 116-108 for the winner, eight rounds to four.
Eubank said afterward that he could’ve knocked out Williams if he had wanted to. He implied that he carried his opponent so he could inflict maximum punishment.
Williams’ supporters would say that it was their man’s ability and toughness that allowed him to survive.
“If I’d stepped on the gas at any point, he would’ve been gone,” he said. “But, you know, he needed to be taught a lesson. I didn’t want to give him the easy way out. I wanted him to know that there are levels to the game.
“And don’t go out there being a big mouth to guys you can get hurt against. He thought he was something he wasn’t.”
Chris Eubank Jr. puts Liam Williams down four times and won a wide decision Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.
Chris Eubank Jr. had no trouble with Liam Williams. Next up could be a shot at a world title.
Eubank put the normally rugged Williams down four times — thrice in the first four rounds — and won a wide decision in a 12-round middleweight bout in the loser’s home country of Wales.
The son of the former champion of the same name could next fight the winner of a tentative title-unification bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata, which would be his second opportunity to fight for a major belt.
The 32-year-old Englishman lost a decision to then-champion George Groves in 2018.
Chris Eubank Jr knocked down Liam Williams four times. Huw Fairclough / Getty Images
“I wanted to teach this man a lesson,” said Eubank, who had exchanged harsh words with Williams beforehand. “He said some very menacing things to me leading up to this fight and I wanted to punish him. … It was a fun night.”
Eubank (32-2, 23 KOs) put Williams (23-4-1, 18 KOs) down with a short left jab in Round 1, did it again with a right-left combination in Round 2 and did it one more time with another jab in Round 4.
At that point, it seemed a matter of time until Eubank finished off an overmatched opponent. However, Williams had other ideas.
The principals fought on roughly even terms in eight of the rounds. Eubank boxed and moved well but Williams was generally the one moving forward and he landed a number of clean, eye-catching punches.
The Welshman seemed to have climbed back into the fight until disaster struck one more time in Round 11, when what appeared on replays to be a push was ruled a fourth knockdown by the referee.
If Williams had any chance of winning the fight on the cards, it was no longer possible after that.
The final scores were lopsided: 116-109, 116-108 and 117-109, all in Eubank’s favor. Boxing Junkie scored it 116-108 for the winner, eight rounds to four.
Eubank said afterward that he could’ve knocked out Williams if he had wanted to. He implied that he carried his opponent so he could inflict maximum punishment.
Williams’ supporters would say that it was their man’s ability and toughness that allowed him to survive.
“If I’d stepped on the gas at any point, he would’ve been gone,” he said. “But, you know, he needed to be taught a lesson. I didn’t want to give him the easy way out. I wanted him to know that there are levels to the game.
“And don’t go out there being a big mouth to guys you can get hurt against. He thought he was something he wasn’t.”
Chris Eubank Jr. said: “I’ll go at Liam Williams until he’s knocked out or quits.”
Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.
Chris Eubankr Jr. hopes to knock Liam Williams out in the ring and then push him “out of boxing” when they meet on Saturday night.
The pair fight on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales in a fight that was twice rescheduled, because of Williams’ shoulder injury and then the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to suspend boxing throughout January as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Eubank will be fighting in Williams’ hometown but disputes whether he’s seen as the villain.
“Am I the bad guy? I don’t know if I like that title,” he told Sky Sports. “We are in his back garden. … [But] I am a stand-up guy and a standard-bearer for the sport, someone that kids can look up to and say: ‘I want to be like him’. Their parents want them to be like me.
“Williams is a bad representative of the sport. The way he talks, the way he holds himself. He needs to be pushed out of boxing.”
Eubank (31-2, 23 KOs) also said Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs) is going to face a tough test.
“He’s in for a serious and rude awakening,” he said. “Anywhere the fight goes, he’ll be out of his depth. A fight, a boxing match, chess, a punch-up. I’ll be on him all night until he quits. I don’t see this fight going 12 rounds.
“My objective is to punish him until he gets knocked out or he quits.”
Chris Eubank Jr. said: “I’ll go at Liam Williams until he’s knocked out or quits.”
Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.
Chris Eubankr Jr. hopes to knock Liam Williams out in the ring and then push him “out of boxing” when they meet on Saturday night.
The pair fight on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales in a fight that was twice rescheduled, because of Williams’ shoulder injury and then the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to suspend boxing throughout January as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Eubank will be fighting in Williams’ hometown but disputes whether he’s seen as the villain.
“Am I the bad guy? I don’t know if I like that title,” he told Sky Sports. “We are in his back garden. … [But] I am a stand-up guy and a standard-bearer for the sport, someone that kids can look up to and say: ‘I want to be like him’. Their parents want them to be like me.
“Williams is a bad representative of the sport. The way he talks, the way he holds himself. He needs to be pushed out of boxing.”
Eubank (31-2, 23 KOs) also said Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs) is going to face a tough test.
“He’s in for a serious and rude awakening,” he said. “Anywhere the fight goes, he’ll be out of his depth. A fight, a boxing match, chess, a punch-up. I’ll be on him all night until he quits. I don’t see this fight going 12 rounds.
“My objective is to punish him until he gets knocked out or he quits.”
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams: date, time, how to watch, background,
Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. faces Liam Williams on a pay-per-view card that also features Claressa Shields’ return to the boxing ring Saturday in Wales.
Chris Eubank Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs) vs. Liam Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Odds: Eubank 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin, middleweights (for Shields’ IBF, WBA and WBC titles); Samuel Antwi vs. Conah Walker, welterweights; Chris Jenkins vs. Julius Indongo, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Eubank is on a roll. The 32-year-old son of Chris Eubank has won five consecutive fights since he lost a unanimous decision to George Groves in 2018, including victories over Marcus Morrison and Wanik Awdijan last year. The fight against Williams is probably his most significant since he upset James DeGale by a unanimous decision in 2019. Eubank is seeking a fight against the winner of a projected title-unification bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata if he wins on Saturday. Williams was outclassed by titleholder Demetrius Andrade in his most-recent bout, last April in Florida. He lost a wide decision in his first major title fight. However, Williams also was on a hot streak before that setback, with seven consecutive victories since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017. Williams is a solid boxer with heavy hands. His last 15 victories have come by knockout. In the co-feature, Claressa Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) returns to boxing after an 11-month hiatus to focus on her MMA career. She’ll defend her middleweight titles against Ema Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) of Slovenia. Shields is coming off a shutout victory over Marie Eve Dicaire in defense of her 154-pound belts in March of last year. She later vacated those titles.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Williams: date, time, how to watch, background,
Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. faces Liam Williams on a pay-per-view card that also features Claressa Shields’ return to the boxing ring Saturday in Wales.
Chris Eubank Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs) vs. Liam Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Odds: Eubank 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin, middleweights (for Shields’ IBF, WBA and WBC titles); Samuel Antwi vs. Conah Walker, welterweights; Chris Jenkins vs. Julius Indongo, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Eubank is on a roll. The 32-year-old son of Chris Eubank has won five consecutive fights since he lost a unanimous decision to George Groves in 2018, including victories over Marcus Morrison and Wanik Awdijan last year. The fight against Williams is probably his most significant since he upset James DeGale by a unanimous decision in 2019. Eubank is seeking a fight against the winner of a projected title-unification bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata if he wins on Saturday. Williams was outclassed by titleholder Demetrius Andrade in his most-recent bout, last April in Florida. He lost a wide decision in his first major title fight. However, Williams also was on a hot streak before that setback, with seven consecutive victories since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017. Williams is a solid boxer with heavy hands. His last 15 victories have come by knockout. In the co-feature, Claressa Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) returns to boxing after an 11-month hiatus to focus on her MMA career. She’ll defend her middleweight titles against Ema Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) of Slovenia. Shields is coming off a shutout victory over Marie Eve Dicaire in defense of her 154-pound belts in March of last year. She later vacated those titles.
Fight Week: Keith Thurman will make his return to the ring against Marios Barrios on Saturday.
FIGHT WEEK
Keith Thurman returns from a 2½-year layoff to face Mario Barrios. Carlos Cuadras, Chris Eubank Jr. and Claressa Shields also are in action on a busy weekend.
Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) vs. Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs)
When: Saturday, Dec. 5
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
Division: Welterweight
Rounds: 12
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Thurman 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Abel Ramos vs. Lucas Santamaria, welterweights; Leo Santa Cruz vs. Keenan Carbajal
Prediction: Thurman KO 10
Background: Thurman, a former 147-pound titleholder, is returning from a 2½-year layoff in an attempt to regain his prominence. The athletic, hard-punching Floridian was last in the ring in July 2019, when he lost his WBA belt in an upset against 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao. The long hiatus, mostly a product of the coronavirus pandemic, has allowed him time to recover from nagging injuries and make a fresh start. He has said he feels as fit as ever at 33. We’ll see whether ring rust is a factor in the fight. If he defeats Barrios, he said, he hopes to fight for a major title in his next fight. Barrios will be making his debut as a full-fledged welterweight. The 26-year-old from San Antonio is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss at junior welterweight against Gervonta Davis, who moved up in weight to fight him. He’s a good boxer-puncher who will have youth the fact he has been active on his side. Key questions for him: 1. How much does Thurman have left? 2. Will he be able to handle the power of a 147-pounder and do damage himself.
Carlos Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KOs) vs. Jesse Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KOs)
When: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Junior bantamweight
Rounds: 12
At stake: Vacant WBC title
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Jamie Mitchell vs. Carly Skelly, bantamweights (for Mitchell’s WBA title); Raymond Ford vs. Edward Vazquez, featherweights
Prediction: Cuadras UD
Background: Cuadras, the former 115-pound titleholder, was supposed to have faced Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in a much anticipated rematch on Saturday and titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada was slated to face rival Roman Gonzalez on March 5 in a mini-tournament. However, the party has been spoiled. Both Sor Rungvisai and Estrada pulled out of their fights because of illness. Rodriguez, who had been scheduled to fight on Saturday’s card, agreed to step in this past weekend. And Gonzalez will face 112-pound champ Julio Cesar Martinez. Cuadras, 33, hasn’t held a major belt since 2016, when Gonzalez took it from him by decision. The Mexican is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss in a title challenge against Estrada in October 2020, his most-recent fight. Rodriguez, who had been scheduled to face Fernando Diaz, will be taking a significant step up in opposition. The southpaw from San Antonio was a good junior amateur who can box and punch. And he’s in a groove, having stopped his last six opponents. We’ll find out whether it’s too early for him to face a foe of Cuadras’ caliber and experience.
Chris Eubank Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs) vs. Liam Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs)
When: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
TV/Stream: FITE
Division: Middleweights
Rounds: 12
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Eubank 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin, middleweights (for Shields’ IBF, WBA and WBC titles); Samuel Antwi vs. Conah Walker, welterweights; Chris Jenkins vs. Julius Indongo, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Eubank is on a roll. The 32-year-old son of Chris Eubank has won five consecutive fights since he lost a unanimous decision to George Groves in 2018, including victories over Marcus Morrison and Wanik Awdijan last year. The fight against Williams is probably his most significant since he upset James DeGale by a unanimous decision in 2019. Eubank is seeking a fight against the winner of a projected title-unification bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata if he wins on Saturday. Williams was outclassed by titleholder Demetrius Andrade in his most-recent bout, last April in Florida. He lost a wide decision in his first major title fight. However, Williams also was on a hot streak before that setback, with seven consecutive victories since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017. Williams is a solid boxer with heavy hands. His last 15 victories have come by knockout. In the co-feature, Claressa Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) returns to boxing after an 11-month hiatus. She’ll defend her middleweight titles against Ema Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) of Slovenia.
Fight Week: Keith Thurman will make his return to the ring against Marios Barrios on Saturday.
FIGHT WEEK
Keith Thurman returns from a 2½-year layoff to face Mario Barrios. Carlos Cuadras, Chris Eubank Jr. and Claressa Shields also are in action on a busy weekend.
Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) vs. Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs)
When: Saturday, Dec. 5
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
Division: Welterweight
Rounds: 12
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Thurman 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Abel Ramos vs. Lucas Santamaria, welterweights; Leo Santa Cruz vs. Keenan Carbajal
Prediction: Thurman KO 10
Background: Thurman, a former 147-pound titleholder, is returning from a 2½-year layoff in an attempt to regain his prominence. The athletic, hard-punching Floridian was last in the ring in July 2019, when he lost his WBA belt in an upset against 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao. The long hiatus, mostly a product of the coronavirus pandemic, has allowed him time to recover from nagging injuries and make a fresh start. He has said he feels as fit as ever at 33. We’ll see whether ring rust is a factor in the fight. If he defeats Barrios, he said, he hopes to fight for a major title in his next fight. Barrios will be making his debut as a full-fledged welterweight. The 26-year-old from San Antonio is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss at junior welterweight against Gervonta Davis, who moved up in weight to fight him. He’s a good boxer-puncher who will have youth the fact he has been active on his side. Key questions for him: 1. How much does Thurman have left? 2. Will he be able to handle the power of a 147-pounder and do damage himself.
Carlos Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KOs) vs. Jesse Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KOs)
When: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Junior bantamweight
Rounds: 12
At stake: Vacant WBC title
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Jamie Mitchell vs. Carly Skelly, bantamweights (for Mitchell’s WBA title); Raymond Ford vs. Edward Vazquez, featherweights
Prediction: Cuadras UD
Background: Cuadras, the former 115-pound titleholder, was supposed to have faced Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in a much anticipated rematch on Saturday and titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada was slated to face rival Roman Gonzalez on March 5 in a mini-tournament. However, the party has been spoiled. Both Sor Rungvisai and Estrada pulled out of their fights because of illness. Rodriguez, who had been scheduled to fight on Saturday’s card, agreed to step in this past weekend. And Gonzalez will face 112-pound champ Julio Cesar Martinez. Cuadras, 33, hasn’t held a major belt since 2016, when Gonzalez took it from him by decision. The Mexican is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss in a title challenge against Estrada in October 2020, his most-recent fight. Rodriguez, who had been scheduled to face Fernando Diaz, will be taking a significant step up in opposition. The southpaw from San Antonio was a good junior amateur who can box and punch. And he’s in a groove, having stopped his last six opponents. We’ll find out whether it’s too early for him to face a foe of Cuadras’ caliber and experience.
Chris Eubank Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs) vs. Liam Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs)
When: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
TV/Stream: FITE
Division: Middleweights
Rounds: 12
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Eubank 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin, middleweights (for Shields’ IBF, WBA and WBC titles); Samuel Antwi vs. Conah Walker, welterweights; Chris Jenkins vs. Julius Indongo, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Eubank is on a roll. The 32-year-old son of Chris Eubank has won five consecutive fights since he lost a unanimous decision to George Groves in 2018, including victories over Marcus Morrison and Wanik Awdijan last year. The fight against Williams is probably his most significant since he upset James DeGale by a unanimous decision in 2019. Eubank is seeking a fight against the winner of a projected title-unification bout between Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata if he wins on Saturday. Williams was outclassed by titleholder Demetrius Andrade in his most-recent bout, last April in Florida. He lost a wide decision in his first major title fight. However, Williams also was on a hot streak before that setback, with seven consecutive victories since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017. Williams is a solid boxer with heavy hands. His last 15 victories have come by knockout. In the co-feature, Claressa Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) returns to boxing after an 11-month hiatus. She’ll defend her middleweight titles against Ema Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) of Slovenia.
