Fight Week: Chris Eubank Jr. will try to avenge a stunning knockout loss to Liam Smith when they meet again on Saturday in England.
FIGHT WEEK
Middleweight contenders Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. will meet in a rematch Saturday after Smith’s sensational knockout of his rival this past January.
LIAM SMITH (33-3-1, 20 KOS) VS.
CHRIS EUBANK JR. (32-3, 23 KOS)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 2
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: AO Arena, Manchester, England
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Smith 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Mikaela Mayer vs. Silvia Bortot Confirmed, junior welterweights; Adam Azim vs. Aram Fanyan, junior welterweights; Mark Heffron vs. Jack Cullen, super middleweights; Frazer Clarke vs. Dave Allen, heavyweights; Florian Marku vs. Dylan Moran, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Smith and Eubank are scheduled to meet for a second time after Smith’s stunning fourth-round knockout of his countryman and fellow contender on Jan. 21 in the same arena. Smith stunned Eubank with a right hand and followed with several more damaging blows, putting him down and hurting him badly. Eubank was able to stagger to his feet and continued for a moment but he went down again under a barrage of punches, prompting the referee to stop the fight. Eubank quickly exercised the rematch clause in their contract. Smith, 35, has demonstrated admirable resilience to remain a contender almost 15 years after he became a professional. His most recent setback came in May 2021, when he lost a close decision to unbeaten 160-pound contender Magomed Kurbanov. He bounced back by delivering one of the better stretches of his career to reestablish himself as a major player, consecutive knockouts of Anthony Fowler, Jessie Vargas, Hassan Mwakinyo and Eubank. Eubank, 33, had been on an impressive run, six consecutive victories (three by knockout) since losing a decision to George Groves in 2018. The resident of Sussex seemed to be on the verge of realizing his potential. Then came the disaster against Smith, which put Eubank in a precarious position. A second setback against the Liverpudlian could knock him out of the rankings and dash any immediate hopes for a shot at a major title.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Yuliahn Luna vs. Dina Thorslund, bantamweights (for Luna’s WBC and Thorslund’s WBO titles), Holstebro, Denmark (FITE)
Fight Week: Chris Eubank Jr. will try to avenge a stunning knockout loss to Liam Smith when they meet again on Saturday in England.
FIGHT WEEK
Middleweight contenders Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. will meet in a rematch Saturday after Smith’s sensational knockout of his rival this past January.
LIAM SMITH (33-3-1, 20 KOS) VS.
CHRIS EUBANK JR. (32-3, 23 KOS)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 2
Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: AO Arena, Manchester, England
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Smith 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Mikaela Mayer vs. Silvia Bortot Confirmed, junior welterweights; Adam Azim vs. Aram Fanyan, junior welterweights; Mark Heffron vs. Jack Cullen, super middleweights; Frazer Clarke vs. Dave Allen, heavyweights; Florian Marku vs. Dylan Moran, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Smith and Eubank are scheduled to meet for a second time after Smith’s stunning fourth-round knockout of his countryman and fellow contender on Jan. 21 in the same arena. Smith stunned Eubank with a right hand and followed with several more damaging blows, putting him down and hurting him badly. Eubank was able to stagger to his feet and continued for a moment but he went down again under a barrage of punches, prompting the referee to stop the fight. Eubank quickly exercised the rematch clause in their contract. Smith, 35, has demonstrated admirable resilience to remain a contender almost 15 years after he became a professional. His most recent setback came in May 2021, when he lost a close decision to unbeaten 160-pound contender Magomed Kurbanov. He bounced back by delivering one of the better stretches of his career to reestablish himself as a major player, consecutive knockouts of Anthony Fowler, Jessie Vargas, Hassan Mwakinyo and Eubank. Eubank, 33, had been on an impressive run, six consecutive victories (three by knockout) since losing a decision to George Groves in 2018. The resident of Sussex seemed to be on the verge of realizing his potential. Then came the disaster against Smith, which put Eubank in a precarious position. A second setback against the Liverpudlian could knock him out of the rankings and dash any immediate hopes for a shot at a major title.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Yuliahn Luna vs. Dina Thorslund, bantamweights (for Luna’s WBC and Thorslund’s WBO titles), Holstebro, Denmark (FITE)
A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER Liam Smith – Who doesn’t love it when a fighter who has been written off proves everyone wrong? Smith looked good in recent fights, including a knockout of Jessie Vargas last April. A meeting …
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Liam Smith – Who doesn’t love it when a fighter who has been written off proves everyone wrong?
Smith looked good in recent fights, including a knockout of Jessie Vargas last April. A meeting with the surging and naturally bigger Chris Eubank Jr. at 160 pounds seemed to be a step too far, though. Smith, 34 and counting, would surely have his limitations revealed.
Surprise, surprise.
Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) gave his fans – and himself – an unforgettable fourth round Saturday in England, one in which he hurt Eubank badly, put him down twice and stopped him at a time when most observers assumed the Liverpudlian’s career was winding down.
Indeed, how many fighters deliver their greatest victory in their mid-30s and 14-plus years into their professional careers?
Smith suddenly is a major player again, either at 154 pounds or 160, which could mean another title shot and more big paydays. It’s no wonder he and his team celebrated afterward as if he’d become the undisputed middleweight champion.
Of course, Smith’s momentum could end in his next fight, whether it’s in a rematch with Eubank or a meeting with another top 160- or 154-pounder. After all, he’s still the fighter who lost decisively to Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia and, more recently, fell short against Magomed Kurbanov.
No matter what happens going forward, he’ll always have his special night on Jan. 21, 2023 at AO Arena. It was quite a moment.
BIGGEST LOSER
Chris Eubank Jr. – A high-profile showdown with Conor Benn fell through after Benn failed a drug test but a meeting with Smith would be a nice stepping stone to bigger and better things for the talented Eubank. Right?
Then disaster struck.
Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs) boxed well for three-plus rounds, using his jab and stick-and-move tactics to frustrate the slower, less-talented Smith. The son of a former world champion of the same name was in control of the fight. Then, in an instant, he got hurt, couldn’t recover and it was all over.
Knockouts happen. Eubank can say with legitimacy that he got caught with a good shot (or shots), which can happen to anyone. True. At the same time, such losses have ramifications.
Eubank had periods of inactivity but he was on a roll, with six consecutive victories after losing a decision to then-168-pound titleholder George Groves in 2018. There was talk that a victory over Smith would lead to a title shot against Gennadiy Golovkin.
All that vanished in the stunning Round 4 against Smith, who demonstrated in brutal fashion that Eubank’s chin isn’t quite as good as everyone had thought.
Now what? Well, a victory in a rematch would go a long way toward reclaiming what he lost. Of course, there are no guarantees that a second fight will happen and that Eubank would emerge victorious if it did.
Indeed, Eubanks’ future as elite fighter is suddenly uncertain.
RABBIT PUNCHES
A rematch clause in their contract obliges Smith to give Eubank a second fight if the latter wants it. I hope it doesn’t happen. One, the victory couldn’t have been more decisive, meaning a second fight really isn’t warranted. That was a brutal stoppage. And, two, I’d like to see Smith, a former 154-pound champ, get one more shot at a major belt. Smith vs. titleholder Golovkin would be a compelling matchup. … David Stevens (12-0, 9 KOs) saved his best for last against fellow super middleweight prospect Sean Hemphill (14-1, 8 KOs) on Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation.” The two were engaged in a competitive back-and-forth fight when, in the final seconds of the fight, Hemphill was hurt by a left-right combination and then collapsed under a flurry of follow-up shots. He was able to get up but went down again under another barrage, prompting the referee to stop the fight with only two seconds to go. That’s what you call taking advantage of a significant opportunity on national TV. …
Josh Taylor reportedly suffered a foot injury in training, which has resulted in the postponement of his scheduled March 4 rematch with Jack Catterall. It’s the second time the fight has been pushed back. The rematch was originally set for December but was postponed after Taylor injured his knee. Is Taylor ever going to recapture what he had only a few years ago? He narrowly outpointed Catterall in February of last year. … I was sorry to hear about the passing of former heavyweight titleholder Gerrie Coatzee at 67 on Jan. 12 in his native South Africa. He was a solid fighter and a good man. He spoke out against apartheid at a time when not many prominent athletes from that did, which earned admiration from leader Nelson Mandela and many others. I was fortunate to cross paths with him when he was promoting fights for a time in my old neighborhood, the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles in the 90s. I remember a soft-spoken gentleman who treated people well. He will be missed.
A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER Liam Smith – Who doesn’t love it when a fighter who has been written off proves everyone wrong? Smith looked good in recent fights, including a knockout of Jessie Vargas last April. A meeting …
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Liam Smith – Who doesn’t love it when a fighter who has been written off proves everyone wrong?
Smith looked good in recent fights, including a knockout of Jessie Vargas last April. A meeting with the surging and naturally bigger Chris Eubank Jr. at 160 pounds seemed to be a step too far, though. Smith, 34 and counting, would surely have his limitations revealed.
Surprise, surprise.
Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) gave his fans – and himself – an unforgettable fourth round Saturday in England, one in which he hurt Eubank badly, put him down twice and stopped him at a time when most observers assumed the Liverpudlian’s career was winding down.
Indeed, how many fighters deliver their greatest victory in their mid-30s and 14-plus years into their professional careers?
Smith suddenly is a major player again, either at 154 pounds or 160, which could mean another title shot and more big paydays. It’s no wonder he and his team celebrated afterward as if he’d become the undisputed middleweight champion.
Of course, Smith’s momentum could end in his next fight, whether it’s in a rematch with Eubank or a meeting with another top 160- or 154-pounder. After all, he’s still the fighter who lost decisively to Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia and, more recently, fell short against Magomed Kurbanov.
No matter what happens going forward, he’ll always have his special night on Jan. 21, 2023 at AO Arena. It was quite a moment.
BIGGEST LOSER
Chris Eubank Jr. – A high-profile showdown with Conor Benn fell through after Benn failed a drug test but a meeting with Smith would be a nice stepping stone to bigger and better things for the talented Eubank. Right?
Then disaster struck.
Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs) boxed well for three-plus rounds, using his jab and stick-and-move tactics to frustrate the slower, less-talented Smith. The son of a former world champion of the same name was in control of the fight. Then, in an instant, he got hurt, couldn’t recover and it was all over.
Knockouts happen. Eubank can say with legitimacy that he got caught with a good shot (or shots), which can happen to anyone. True. At the same time, such losses have ramifications.
Eubank had periods of inactivity but he was on a roll, with six consecutive victories after losing a decision to then-168-pound titleholder George Groves in 2018. There was talk that a victory over Smith would lead to a title shot against Gennadiy Golovkin.
All that vanished in the stunning Round 4 against Smith, who demonstrated in brutal fashion that Eubank’s chin isn’t quite as good as everyone had thought.
Now what? Well, a victory in a rematch would go a long way toward reclaiming what he lost. Of course, there are no guarantees that a second fight will happen and that Eubank would emerge victorious if it did.
Indeed, Eubanks’ future as elite fighter is suddenly uncertain.
RABBIT PUNCHES
A rematch clause in their contract obliges Smith to give Eubank a second fight if the latter wants it. I hope it doesn’t happen. One, the victory couldn’t have been more decisive, meaning a second fight really isn’t warranted. That was a brutal stoppage. And, two, I’d like to see Smith, a former 154-pound champ, get one more shot at a major belt. Smith vs. titleholder Golovkin would be a compelling matchup. … David Stevens (12-0, 9 KOs) saved his best for last against fellow super middleweight prospect Sean Hemphill (14-1, 8 KOs) on Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation.” The two were engaged in a competitive back-and-forth fight when, in the final seconds of the fight, Hemphill was hurt by a left-right combination and then collapsed under a flurry of follow-up shots. He was able to get up but went down again under another barrage, prompting the referee to stop the fight with only two seconds to go. That’s what you call taking advantage of a significant opportunity on national TV. …
Josh Taylor reportedly suffered a foot injury in training, which has resulted in the postponement of his scheduled March 4 rematch with Jack Catterall. It’s the second time the fight has been pushed back. The rematch was originally set for December but was postponed after Taylor injured his knee. Is Taylor ever going to recapture what he had only a few years ago? He narrowly outpointed Catterall in February of last year. … I was sorry to hear about the passing of former heavyweight titleholder Gerrie Coatzee at 67 on Jan. 12 in his native South Africa. He was a solid fighter and a good man. He spoke out against apartheid at a time when not many prominent athletes from that did, which earned admiration from leader Nelson Mandela and many others. I was fortunate to cross paths with him when he was promoting fights for a time in my old neighborhood, the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles in the 90s. I remember a soft-spoken gentleman who treated people well. He will be missed.
Liam Smith delivered a stunning fourth-round knockout of Chris Eubank Jr. on Saturday in England.
Liam Smith waited a long time to turn in his greatest performance.
The former junior middleweight titleholder, 34, stunned the boxing world by knocking out Chris Eubank Jr. in the fourth round Saturday at AO Arena in Manchester, England.
Smith put his fellow Englishman down twice, after which the latter was unable to continue. The official time of the stoppage was 1:09 of Round 4.
Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs) was deemed the better, hotter boxer and is the naturally bigger man, as Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) moved up to middleweight for the fight.
Thus, Eubank was favored to win. And he performed like it for three-plus rounds, fighting behind his jab and using stick-and-move tactics to frustrate the slower Smith.
Then, in the fourth round, came the dramatic stoppage. Smith had Eubank trapped in a corner and unloaded a barrage of power shots, at least one of which sent him to the canvas and hurt him badly.
Eubank, who had never been stopped, got to his feet but was clearly unsteady as Smith pumped his fist in excitement as he retreated to a neutral corner. Referee Victor Loughlin would’ve been justified to stop the fight then and there.
Loughlin ultimately gave Eubank one more opportunity, but moments after the action resumed Smith put Eubank down again, which prompted Loughlin to save him from further punishment.
“I told you all week, don’t be surprised if I stop him,” Smith said. “I don’t know whether it was an accumulation of shots or that one punch. If Chris wants the rematch I will do it.”
Just like that, Smith, who had lost big fights against Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, had a defining victory that puts him in the thick of title contention at either 154 or 160 pounds when most thought his career was winding down.
And, yes, a rematch clause in the contract signed by both fighters could lead to a second fight, perhaps immediately. If it happens, you can bet that no one will underestimate the Liverpudlian.
Liam Smith delivered a stunning fourth-round knockout of Chris Eubank Jr. on Saturday in England.
Liam Smith waited a long time to turn in his greatest performance.
The former junior middleweight titleholder, 34, stunned the boxing world by knocking out Chris Eubank Jr. in the fourth round Saturday at AO Arena in Manchester, England.
Smith put his fellow Englishman down twice, after which the latter was unable to continue. The official time of the stoppage was 1:09 of Round 4.
Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs) was deemed the better, hotter boxer and is the naturally bigger man, as Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) moved up to middleweight for the fight.
Thus, Eubank was favored to win. And he performed like it for three-plus rounds, fighting behind his jab and using stick-and-move tactics to frustrate the slower Smith.
Then, in the fourth round, came the dramatic stoppage. Smith had Eubank trapped in a corner and unloaded a barrage of power shots, at least one of which sent him to the canvas and hurt him badly.
Eubank, who had never been stopped, got to his feet but was clearly unsteady as Smith pumped his fist in excitement as he retreated to a neutral corner. Referee Victor Loughlin would’ve been justified to stop the fight then and there.
Loughlin ultimately gave Eubank one more opportunity, but moments after the action resumed Smith put Eubank down again, which prompted Loughlin to save him from further punishment.
“I told you all week, don’t be surprised if I stop him,” Smith said. “I don’t know whether it was an accumulation of shots or that one punch. If Chris wants the rematch I will do it.”
Just like that, Smith, who had lost big fights against Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, had a defining victory that puts him in the thick of title contention at either 154 or 160 pounds when most thought his career was winding down.
And, yes, a rematch clause in the contract signed by both fighters could lead to a second fight, perhaps immediately. If it happens, you can bet that no one will underestimate the Liverpudlian.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith: date, time, how to watch, background.
Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. is scheduled to face veteran Liam Smith on Saturday night in Manchester, England on DAZN.
CHRIS EUBANK JR. (32-2, 23 KOs) vs. LIAM SMITH (32-3-1, 19 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: AO Arena, Manchester, England
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Eubank 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Richard Riakporhe vs. Krzysztof Głowacki, cruiserweights; Joseph Parker vs. Jack Massey, heavyweights; Ekow Essuman vs. Chris Kongo, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Chris Eubank Jr. was scheduled meet rival Conor Benn in a much-anticipated 157-pound bout last Oct. 8 but the fight was scrapped after Benn tested positive for a banned substance. Three months later Eubank will face another fellow Englishman, former 154-pound titleholder Liam Smith. Eubank, 33, is on a roll, having won six consecutive fights since losing a unanimous decision to then-world titleholder George Groves in 2018. He last fought in February of last year, when he put Liam Williams down four times and won a wide decision. Smith, 34, also has enjoyed success recently. He has won three in a row since losing a unanimous decision to Magomed Kurbanov in May 2021. His most-recent fight was last September, when he stopped Hassan Mwakinyo in four rounds in a scheduled 12-round 160-pound bout. Smith is ranked at 154 pounds by all four major sanctioning bodies. He might be best known for losing his 154-pound title to Canelo Alvarez by a ninth-round knockout in 2016 at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith: date, time, how to watch, background.
Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. is scheduled to face veteran Liam Smith on Saturday night in Manchester, England on DAZN.
CHRIS EUBANK JR. (32-2, 23 KOs) vs. LIAM SMITH (32-3-1, 19 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: AO Arena, Manchester, England
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Eubank 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Richard Riakporhe vs. Krzysztof Głowacki, cruiserweights; Joseph Parker vs. Jack Massey, heavyweights; Ekow Essuman vs. Chris Kongo, welterweights
Prediction: Eubank UD
Background: Chris Eubank Jr. was scheduled meet rival Conor Benn in a much-anticipated 157-pound bout last Oct. 8 but the fight was scrapped after Benn tested positive for a banned substance. Three months later Eubank will face another fellow Englishman, former 154-pound titleholder Liam Smith. Eubank, 33, is on a roll, having won six consecutive fights since losing a unanimous decision to then-world titleholder George Groves in 2018. He last fought in February of last year, when he put Liam Williams down four times and won a wide decision. Smith, 34, also has enjoyed success recently. He has won three in a row since losing a unanimous decision to Magomed Kurbanov in May 2021. His most-recent fight was last September, when he stopped Hassan Mwakinyo in four rounds in a scheduled 12-round 160-pound bout. Smith is ranked at 154 pounds by all four major sanctioning bodies. He might be best known for losing his 154-pound title to Canelo Alvarez by a ninth-round knockout in 2016 at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas.
Chris Eubank Jr.: First Liam Smith on Saturday, then a long-awaited showdown with Conor Benn.
Chris Eubank Jr. has a curious take on Conor Benn.
On one hand, Eubank told The Guardian that Benn should be banned from boxing after he failed a drug test this past October, which scuttled their scheduled meeting. On the other hand, Eubank still wants to fight domestic rival.
Eubank is first scheduled to face Liam Smith in a 12-round 160-pound fight Saturday at AO Arena in Manchester, England (DAZN).
“If you’re going to talk about setting an example to kids and the next generation of fighters, then, yes, absolutely I would say a ban [is appropriate],” he told the newspaper. “The selfish side of the coin, which is where I’m a fighter who wants to be in huge fights and get my hands on this kid for what he’s done, doesn’t want a ban.”
Benn allegedly tested positive for Clomifene, a fertility drug for women that reportedly can increase testosterone levels in men, more than a week for the fight.
Eubank, who was told immediately, agreed to go through with the fight after Benn told him that the allegations were “bull—-.” However, it fell apart after the British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction it.
Eubank dismissed Benn as a “great f—ing actor” after learning that Benn allegedly failed another drug test a few months earlier. Now their rivalry is more personal than ever.
“Yeah, the fight is twice as big,” he said. “We would need a stadium with 60,000 instead of the O2 [Arena in London]. Does he deserve that kind of payday after being caught with illegal substances? Probably not. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to give up that payday.
“And, now, it’s personal. It’s not just about upholding the family legacy. I now actually don’t like this kid. He’s done wrong by me. So he’s lost all his privileges and bartering power. There are no weight clauses now. There are no rehydration limits. There are no 50% splits.
“Everything’s in my court now. I’m the only fight people want to see him in.”
Of course, Eubank (32-2, 23 KOs) must get past Smith first. And that’s not a given.
Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) is a former 154-pound titleholder who has won three consecutive fights since losing a decision to rising junior middleweight contender Magomed Kurbanov in May 2021, including a 10th-round TKO of Jessie Vargas last April.
Most observers believe that Smith has a legitimate chance to win the fight. Eubank respects his fellow Englishman but also is confident.
“He’s a former world champion and you have to always respect that,” Eubank said. “I also don’t think he would be taking the fight if he didn’t think he could win. But if I fight at 50% of what I’m capable of doing I’ll win.
