Liam Smith v Chris Eubank Jr

[Master]

Smith: Eubank couldn't lace Canelo's boots | 'I won't miss Xmas dinner for him!'

Chris Eubank Jr won't miss Christmas dinner, despite his preparations for a fight against Liam Smith, who says his British rival is nowhere near the class of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

The middleweight duo are braced for a defining night in their careers in Manchester on January 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office when they meet in a fight that could make or break reputations and ambitions.

Eubank Jr has mirrored the approach taken to his cancelled fight with Conor Benn in suggesting a less-than-100 per cent version of himself will be good enough on the night; Smith, for his part, is confident he can make light work of anything other than a prime opponent.

Smith believes his superior boxing ability will be the key to victory against Eubank Jr and suggests he will draw on the lessons of his ninth-round stoppage loss to former pound-for-pound No 1 Canelo in 2016.

Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith fight confirmedSmith vows to expose Eubank Jr 'vulnerabilities'

"I feel like that's played a big part in my career," 'Beefy' told Sky Sports News. "Chris is looking at that like 'you've been down, you've been stopped', I said to him face to face: 'Yeah I got stopped with a body shot off the best fighter in the world, the No 1 fighter in the world at that time'.

"You're no Canelo Alvarez. Chris Eubank couldn't lace Canelo's boots, so I'm confident the Canelo fight taught me a lot as a man in my pro career.

"Again, Chris Eubank is no Canelo Alvarez and what I learnt in that fight will be enough to beat Chris."

The tone of the build-up is expected to reflect that of the fight itself: neither man backing down, with Eubank Jr embracing his 'bad guy' image while attempting to unsettle Smith.

"I'm a little bit clever, he's not going to eat me away with words, I'm just correcting him every time he says something that doesn't make sense," Smith added. "He feels that's getting under my skin, it's not. It's far from it.

"If I was to go for him or throw something - something out of character - then he's got under my skin.

"I said to him before: 'you feel you've got under my skin, I'm just telling you what I'd tell any opponent sitting across the table to me - you will not beat me at 50 per cent'.

"I don't think Chris Eubank at 100 per cent beats me, so 50 per cent? Good luck to you, because I'll wipe the floor with you."

Eubank Jr: I would beat Smith with a bad arm!

Eubank Jr joked he has a "100 per cent win ratio" in press conferences throughout his career, and the 33-year-old is known for his tendency to prod and poke opponents in a light-hearted search of a mental edge during the build-up to fights.

He has been bullish in suggesting he fights at a level above to Smith, downplaying his opponent's ability to surprise him come fight night.

"I learnt that even at this age I have still got it," Eubank Jr told Sky Sports News. "I have a jab, I have foot movement, I have great defensive ability. That's what I'll do against Liam Smith in January.

"Liam Smith is very predictable, he is very ABC, 123 type fighter. There nothing he is going to do that is going to surprise me. There's no tricks up his sleeve.

"I can box, I can brawl, I can run, defend, attack. I have all the options. He uses the same tactic each time and I will exploit that.

"I have told him that I need to be 50 per cent to beat him, that's in my humble opinion. If I had a bad foot, a bad leg and a bad arm I would deal with him. He has to prove me wrong. He says he's going to knock me out, but I hear that narrative each time I get into the ring. It never happens. Maybe it'll be different, but I doubt it."

Having suggested earlier this week he planned on eating fried chicken over the next eight weeks ahead of the fight, Eubank Jr insisted he has no plans to miss out on his Christmas dinner either amid the typical nutritional requirements of a training camp.

"Christmas Day, Boxing Day, birthdays, Easter, New Years - Chris Eubank Jr is in the gym. We sacrifice what's needed to perform under the big lights at the highest levels.

"Christmas Day I will be in the gym. I make weight responsibly. I make weight well. I have my turkey and sausages with bacon wrapped around. I am not going to sacrifice my Christmas dinner, not for Liam Smith."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...23a074db73e884

[TIC]

frazer clarke v kevin 'kingpin' johnson could be on the undercard

[TIC]

jack massey v joseph parker & richard riakporhe v krzysztof glowacki to be on this card

[Master]

Heavyweight Joseph Parker and cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe will fight on the undercard of Chris Eubank Junior's bout with Liam Smith on 21 January.

New Zealander Parker returns for the first time since being stopped by Joe Joyce against another Englishman Jack Massey in Manchester.

Riakporhe faces two-time cruiserweight world champion Krzysztof Glowacki.

"It is going to be fireworks," said Londoner Riakporhe.

Riakporhe, 32, is undefeated in 15 professional fights and aims to continue his push for a world title with a win over the experienced 36-year-old Glowacki.

The Pole has two defeats in his last three outings after losses to Lawrence Okolie and Mairis Briedis.

"He won't be a pushover, I have to be at the top of my A-game," added Riakporhe.

Massey, 29, is stepping up to heavyweight for the first time to face Parker, a former world champion in the division.

"Massey has been pushing for a big fight and he has jumped at this test against Joseph Parker," promoter Ben Shalom said of the match-up.

"He has got huge support in Manchester and now he'll be fighting one of the biggest names in boxing."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/64057737

[Master]

Chris Eubank Jr is planning a major year and has set out his wishlist for fights in 2023.

"Golovkin number one because he has those middleweight belts and it's a fight that can and should be made," Eubank told Sky Sports.

"I guess Canelo would be number two. He's the big name. He's the guy everyone knows in the sport and I think I can beat him. Those would be my two Christmas wish list fights for the rest of the year."

Golovkin has been an opponent that Eubank Jr has targeted for many years. In 2016, they came close to signing a contract to fight, only for that bout to fall through.

Last year Golovkin unified the IBF and WBA middleweight titles when he beat Ryota Murata in Japan.

Although he lost to Canelo Alvarez in a lacklustre performance in September, that was at super-middleweight. The Kazakh therefore still holds his championships at 160lbs.

Now Eubank believes 2023 is the time for that fight to happen.

He says it would be "a huge shame" if that Golovkin fight were to elude him again.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...6611bf763b2e5b

[Master]

Recently, both men came face-to-face for Sky Sport’s ‘The Gloves are Off’ and Eubank Jr was surprised to find out that Smith is only a year older than him.

Eubank Jr accused Smith of not putting in enough effort in the gym, to which the Liverpudlian responded: “You can’t have the career that I’ve had without putting the work in the gym.

“You’re not a young man yourself by the way,” Smith continued. “You’re 33, but I’m 34 and you can’t have the career I’ve had without putting in the work in the gym.”

“You’re 34 yearsold?” Eubank Jr said, clearly shocked. “You look about 50.”

“Don’t let the grey hair fool you,” Smith replied. “I’ve been grey since I was 28, so don’t let that fool you or it will be your downfall.”

Eubank Jr continued to wind up his opponent, as he responded: “Whatever you’re eating or drinking, just chill out with that, because it’s not working for you.”

Smith finished by saying: “If you want to talk about lifestyles, you’re just a clown.”

This clip was posted on Sky Sports Boxing Twitter and Smith replied to the tweet with a picture of himself and Eubank Jr in the gym as younger men, pointing out his opponents hairline.

He posted: “Let’s not forget, soft s****, you looked about 50 when you was 26 with that daft hair line. Before your trip to turkey.”

https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/1...pponent-clown/

[Master]

34-year-old Smith recalled memories of past sparring sessions with Eubank Jr, telling Boxxer: “I remember just thinking like, ‘Look at him...’

“I haven’t even said, [but] I remember getting out the ring and Ronnie Davies [Eubank Jr’s trainer] saying, ‘You can hit him when you want to hit him.’

“I know Chris can be hurt to the body; I’ve openly said it, I know I hurt him to the body. He’ll tell you different, but he’s telling you he’s never been hurt in his life, so that’s just Chris.

“Obviously size made it an even spar, and that’s what I’m trying to say now. Size here is making this fight a 50-50, or a great fight as people are saying.”

Meanwhile, Eubank Jr said his memory of the sparring sessions is less clear.

“I think it was in Amir Khan’s gym, but I don’t remember exactly how it went down,” he said.

“I don’t remember if I hurt him. He says he hurt me to the body and nearly put me on the canvas. I think that is a whimsical tale.

“We’re both probably two different fighters compared to what we were back then. Well, I know I am; he may not be, but I am.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...fa9b84c72539b7

[Primo Carnera]

I’m gonna throw this out there. I’ve been one of Eubank Jr’s biggest critics on here as a boxer and the shit he comes out with.
Well my opinion of him as a boxer has never really changed.
Anybody who matches up Size wise with good boxing skills and ring IQ will beat him. He’s always been fit, durable and teak tough. And if he was able to get away from his Dad’s influence as a kid and wasn’t so arrogant that he would listen to a good trainer, he could’ve been amazing. But he’s not.
However, as a bloke , as time goes on, I’m really warming to him. He’s a proper funny cunt, great sense of humour and knows that he is getting under the skin of the rest of the fighters.
Liam Smith , even though he denies it, has really let this 50% bollocks get under his skin. It’s fucking hilarious!
I still give Smith a fair chance in this fight because he can box, but Eubank does have a size advantage and will just keep coming at him.
Good matchup though.