20 January 2023 , 14:24
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Chris Eubank Jr pulled on a rainbow armband to weigh in for his fight with Liam Smith after it emerged the fighters are being investigated following yesterday's "homophobic" row.
The son-of-a-legend showed off the armband, which represents the LGBT community, whilst weighing in at 159lb for the fight. Eubank Jr was indirectly replying to comments made by Smith on Thursday about his sexuality, when the Scouser said: "You go on about girls, has anybody in this room ever seen you with a girl? This is for no laughs I am just asking, do you want to tell us something?”
Eubank Jr replied by accusing Smith of cheating on his wife, stating: “My private life is my private life. That is irrelevant to the boxing but I am happy and comfortable. If you want to get personal, talking about being gay? I’ve been told you cheat on your wife. I’d rather be gay than a cheat.”
Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith after weighing in (PA)Sky Sports presenter Anna Woodhouse was then forced to issue an apology for the ugly scenes. "We would like to apologise if you have been offended by the offensive language, personal and homophobic remarks made up on stage," she said. The British Boxing Board of Control later announced they are looking into the incident.
Eubank Jr told Smith that he "embarrassed" himself by making the comments and downplayed the severity of them, insisting it didn't matter as the rivals will settle their difference in the ring. “It escalated quickly and that’s ok. This is boxing, this is the entertainment business, this is the fight game and this is real," he said.
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“You don’t say the things he was saying or act the way he was acting if you’re not rattled in some way, shape or form. People react to fighting a man in different ways. He embarrassed himself up there but it’s OK. We’re going to fight it out and settle our differences in a couple of days’ time.”
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Smith apologised for his comments and admitted the personal exchange with Eubank Jr shouldn't have happened, suggesting both fighters being in the final stage of their weight cut for the fight likely played a part in the row.
"It’s crossed a line and for people looking at it, it’s wrong," he said. "We shouldn’t act like that. It’s fight week, we’re both starving and making weight. If anyone took it personally, I apologise. It was always going to get a little bit heated like that. At the end of the day it’s just words. Just take it with a pinch of salt."