Eubank Jr has nowhere to go if Smith wins again - and the signs don't look good

01 September 2023 , 13:45

1159     0

Liam Smith ran out the winner when the two met in January

It is career ending for Chris Eubank Jr if he loses a second time to Liam Smith. And the way he lost in the first fight to a devastating knockout does not bode well.

When you get knocked out like that you have to show something. I admire him for coming straight back with a rematch.

He still thinks he is the better fighter. He has always thought that he is exceptional. That can be a good thing, but if you are arrogant to the point of disregard for your opponent’s qualities you are asking for trouble.

Which is what happened last time. It takes only a second in boxing to be taught a lesson. And to get flattened like that is the worst way to lose.

Eubank’s ego won’t let him accept he was beaten by the better man, which he was of course. He thought Smith was a light-punching super welterweight and learned to his cost the folly of that.

Chris Eubank Jr set for second Liam Smith fight after activating rematch clause

Smith is not a devastating puncher, but he is a good, solid all-rounder. Good jab, doubles up the left hook to the body very well, good upper body movement, never loses his posture and is tough as teak.

He busted his nuts to make 154 pounds so 160 at middleweight suits him. For Eubank it is a torment to get down to 160. He walks around at 176 or 178. He’s almost 6ft tall.

And that was the obvious problem in the first fight. His target was the 157 catchweight he had agreed with Conor Benn. When that fell through, he chose to stay at an artificially low weight for too long to avoid going through the process again for Smith. That was a mistake. It sucked the life from him and took away his punch resistance.

Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr meet again in Manchester this weekend (Getty Images)

This time he has left it much later to shift the weight, so he should be in better shape, but once your chin has been cracked like that it is difficult to repair the physiological wiring.

There is every chance he could get on his toes and win the fight. But any time Smith catches him square he will knock him out. For Eubank to win he will have to hit and move. Smith had him against the ropes and ripped in a left uppercut that switched his lights out.

He will have to respect Smith this time and keep his hands up. If he gets backed into a corner with his hands around his waist he is done. I think Smith wins again, though he may have to go the distance.

Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym

Barry McGuigan