Liam Smith is contractually obligated to a direct rematch with Chris Eubank Jr.
The previous WBO junior middleweight champion possesses some leverage, nevertheless, now that he has knocked out Eubank within the fourth spherical. The 34-year-old Smith detailed throughout his post-fight press convention late Saturday night time in Manchester, England a few of his “phrases” for a second showdown with Eubank.
“Simply, clearly, like I stated, Liverpool,” Smith stated in reference to the rematch going down in his hometown. “Clearly, the cash [changes] now. I’d drag him all the way down to 157 [pounds].”
The contract weight for his or her combat Saturday night time at a sold-out AO Enviornment in Manchester was the middleweight restrict of 160 kilos. Eubank beforehand agreed to field rival Conor Benn at a catch weight of 157 kilos, however their high-profile combat, which was scheduled for October 8 at O2 Enviornment in London, was canceled October 6 as a result of Benn examined constructive for a banned performance-enhancing drug throughout coaching camp.
The 33-year-old Eubank wouldn’t have fought Smith on Saturday night time had the Benn bout proceeded as deliberate. Eubank entered the ring as an approximate 3-1 favourite to beat Smith, who surprisingly dropped Eubank twice throughout the fourth spherical to tug off an upset of their Sky Sports activities Field Workplace fundamental occasion.
Brighton’s Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs), a son of certainly one of British boxing’s most legendary fighters, misplaced by knockout for the primary time in 35 skilled fights. Eubank fought as excessive because the tremendous middleweight restrict of 168 kilos previous to this loss and his chin had at all times been certainly one of his biggest strengths.
Eubank couldn’t recuperate Saturday night time, although, after Smith’s mixture of a left uppercut and left hook knocked Eubank to the canvas 45 seconds into the fourth spherical. A bewildered Eubank obtained up shortly, however Smith’s brief proper knocked him into the ropes and down once more, which brought about referee Victor Loughlin to cease the motion at 1:09 of the fourth spherical.
Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) is simply as assured he’ll beat Eubank once more as he was earlier than their first combat.
“Once more, I stated final week,” Smith stated, “I stated two weeks in the past, I stated three weeks in the past, 4, ‘I beat him as soon as, I’ll beat him twice.’ So, it’s not an issue. However this needs to be proper for me now and on my phrases. You recognize, it’s probably not concerning the Smith-Eubank signal, however just a few different issues has gotta be on my phrases.”
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He could be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.