Chris Eubank Jr and Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith clash this Saturday, 21 January at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The 12-round middleweight fight is a grudge match of two former world champions, with Eubank holding the WBA interim middleweight belt between 2015 and 2021, while Smith was WBO light-middleweight champion from 2015 to 2016.
These titles disguise questions from fans about their stature though, with the interim middleweight belt not considered a full world title and Smith’s powers possibly waning at the age of 34.
Brighton-born Chris Eubank Jr is 5″11 with a record of 32-2 (23 ko’s)
Liverpool’s Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith is 5″9.5 with a record of 32-3-1 (19 ko’s)
Eubank is a 2/5 favourite across the majority of the bookies, while Smith is a 2/1 underdog across the same range.
Eubank is the cleaner, more polished boxer with crisp and accurate combinations, along with stellar footwork.
Smith is considered more of a brute and a workhorse, with devastating body punches and a fierce tenacity.
The live workout is today (Wednesday 18 January) at the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
🥊
First pit stop for #EubankSmith fight week –
📍Trafford Centre
⏰ 4pm
🥊 PUBLIC WORKOUT
📱 Streamed on YouTube @boxxer #SimBoxx pic.twitter.com/WQ4RoBxgf7— SimBoxx (@SimBoxx1) January 18, 2023
Eubank fights for the first time since his cancelled bout with arch-rival, Conor Benn.
Benn was flagged for anabolic steroid use in the build-up to the highly anticipated affair.
Eubank is on a six-fight win streak since his unanimous decision loss to George Groves in Manchester in 2017, with his only other loss recorded being a very close split-decision loss to Billy Joe Saunders.
He is now under the tutelage of Roy Jones Jr, who is one of the best boxers to ever step in the ring.
Eubank has a broadly similar style to the great Jones, and the two seem to be a fantastic pair.
Liam Smith has won his last three fights by knockout, and the Liverpudlian looks to emerge victorious in hostile territory this weekend.
Eubank has been taunting Smith nonstop in the build-up to the fight, and Liam vows to win ‘convincingly.’
Had to put a billboard up in Manny to let Liam know what time it is. 1 week to go! #EubankSmith pic.twitter.com/4xR7fKFNgk
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) January 14, 2023
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra will have commentary of the fight live from 8pm GMT, and the main card coverage will begin from 10pm GMT on Radio 5 Live.
The event will also be shown on Sky Sports Box Office for the UK fans and DAZN for the United States and Canada.
The full fight card is as follows:
- Chris Eubank Jr vs. Liam Smith
- Richard Riakporhe vs. Krzysztof Glowacki
- Ekow Essuman vs. Chris Kongo
- Joseph Parker vs. Jack Massey
- Frazer Clarke vs. Kevin Espindola
- Matty Harris vs. Jiri Surmanj
- Scott Forrest vs. Amine Boucetta
