Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. is on the crossroads of his profession after struggling an sudden knockout loss by the hands of huge underdog Liam Smith on Saturday evening in Manchester.
In a battle the place Eubank appeared to have taken management by the tip of the third spherical, Smith opened up with an arsenal of huge photographs within the fourth to drop Eubank laborious. Eubank barely made it up, earlier than getting decked for a second time and the battle was waved off.
Smith, a former junior middleweight champion, was shifting up in weight to take the battle.
Eubank appears to be leaning within the path of exercising his instant rematch clause.
He strongly feels that he was simply profitable the battle earlier than Smith clipped him on the chin with a superb shot.
“A troublesome evening? No I would not even say that, I used to be having enjoyable, I used to be touchdown my photographs, I used to be having fun with the second,” Eubank solely advised Sky Sports activities from his dressing room post-fight. “And he caught me with a once-in-a-lifetime shot. I received up, I recovered, he put it on me once more with a number of extra photographs and the referee determined it was sufficient. I felt like I may go on. I felt like I used to be conscious of what was taking place, nevertheless it was the referee’s choice and I’ve to respect it.
“I felt like I used to be dominating the battle earlier than that occurred, so I feel we have got an thrilling alternative, in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later, to have that rematch. Pay attention, it is boxing, it is a horny sport, that is the game we love. Something can occur. I by no means would have believed this might occur.
“I feel lots of people did not see this taking place, and it occurred, however that is okay. I am okay with it. It is a part of the journey and I’ve nonetheless received loads left so we’ll see what occurs afterward within the yr. He had good hand velocity, nevertheless it was that one sequence of photographs. He threw a bunch of photographs and one among them landed and it dazed me. I felt earlier than that I used to be in command of the battle.
“That third spherical I used to be choosing my photographs, and, no disrespect, however each canine has its day. This was Liam’s evening, and I respect him. There’s dropping a battle and dropping a battle. I used to be dominating the battle after which I received caught, so to me I am nonetheless capable of carry out and in my thoughts I am nonetheless the higher fighter. Clearly I haven’t got a lot of an argument after a loss, however I’ve an argument to show I am the higher fighter. It was a shot that landed, and it is a battle I feel the followers will nonetheless wish to see additional down the road.”