Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith | SKY PPV - 21 January 2023

[Dioufy]

He said he had an injury.

Smith is as basic as they come. Eubank shouldn't have any problems.

So carried him? Had an injury? Was at 15%? Or just had food Poisoning from the KFC just around the corner from my house?

Smith’s skill-set being vastly under looked here.

Liam's a high level plodder, who starts slow, but has determination, confidence and is a spiteful puncher. Smith is a world level operator at 154, no doubt. Eubank has only lost to a slickster and a consummate boxer and does very well against guys who come forward.

And Liam’s only lost to a massive Canelo and Mungia.

[keithmoonhangover]

So carried him? Had an injury? Was at 15%? Or just had food Poisoning from the KFC just around the corner from my house?

Smith’s skill-set being vastly under looked here.

Liam's a high level plodder, who starts slow, but has determination, confidence and is a spiteful puncher. Smith is a world level operator at 154, no doubt. Eubank has only lost to a slickster and a consummate boxer and does very well against guys who come forward.

And Liam’s only lost to a massive Canelo and Mungia.

I get it mate, I really rate Liam Smith, I just think Eubank is all wrong for him.

[Dioufy]

Maybe, maybe not. I’ve not been impressed with Chris for quite awhile and with him having Roy Jones in the corner I just see Smith starting slowly with a high guard then after a few rounds just being too technically good and too busy for Eubank.

I don’t think it’ll be one-sided but I see a Smith win. Great fight though; shame I can’t watch as I refuse to pay for PPV.

Stream or radio.

[TheLeprechaun]

He said he had an injury.

Smith is as basic as they come. Eubank shouldn't have any problems.

So carried him? Had an injury? Was at 15%? Or just had food Poisoning from the KFC just around the corner from my house?

Smith’s skill-set being vastly under looked here.

Control your autism. Too many weird questions there.

I don't agree Smith is being overlooked or is going to outbox Eubank. He's just a basic plodding type of guy that Eubank should handle. Smith may have only lost to Munguia and Canelo but Williams was beating him the first time and should have won that on the cards because it should have gone to the cards and there were many who had Williams winning the rematch also. What does Smith do other than high guard, plod and throw jabs, 1-2s and some body shots. He's utilised his size and strength on previous opponents but is the smaller guy here. If Eubank loses here then he will have absolutely nowhere to go. Realistically he should be in control of the fight from start to finish. I do agree he will mess about in there and who knows, he could have an injury coming in again.

[Dioufy]

Well if he loses then he has a rematch clause.

Cannot personally believe how highly some people rate former IBO world champion Chris Eubank. He’s a very good fighter but will never breach world level.

Size won’t be a huge factor. Both will likely weigh the same come fight night. You question what Liam do well; if that’s your barometer then what the hell does Chris do well apart from have an iron jaw. What fights have impressed you so much about him? Even in defeat to Canelo Liam did himself proud.

Btw… not autistic… just sarcastic.
Irony, eh?

[keithmoonhangover]

Chris Eubank. He’s a very good fighter but will never breach world level.

Boxrec rank him at #2 middleweight and he's #4 by TBRB. Both independent ratings, both have him as a world class middleweight. I don't particularly like the guy, but he's definitely at that level.

[Dioufy]

Chris Eubank. He’s a very good fighter but will never breach world level.

Boxrec rank him at #2 middleweight and he's #4 by TBRB. Both independent ratings, both have him as a world class middleweight. I don't particularly like the guy, but he's definitely at that level.

1 world title fight (which he lost handily) and 0 world titles in a 10 year career with his better days behind and he’s now just eager to munch on fighters from lower weights doesn’t make you world class and I think you know it.

Any other meaningful era in the middleweights he’s top 15 and a gate-keeper to the bad boys… at best.

Accomplishments in the ring take precedence over the analytics of the Boxrec database. Like I asked the lovely Leppy… what’s he done to be called world class, and what has he done in ring to impress you so?

His career has been very disappointing from when he made his debut on 5.

[TheLeprechaun]

Well if he loses then he has a rematch clause.

Cannot personally believe how highly some people rate former IBO world champion Chris Eubank. He’s a very good fighter but will never breach world level.

Size won’t be a huge factor. Both will likely weigh the same come fight night. You question what Liam do well; if that’s your barometer then what the hell does Chris do well apart from have an iron jaw. What fights have impressed you so much about him? Even in defeat to Canelo Liam did himself proud.

Btw… not autistic… just sarcastic.
Irony, eh?

Well I agree that Chris is limited himself. We saw that in the Groves and Saunders fights where he was getting outboxed. Smith is not anywhere near the level of those guys as a boxer. I just don't rate Liam as highly as you do I guess. He is going to be the one who has to go on the front foot. Not to say he isn't a decent operator at British/Euro level but going to fringe world level he is going to struggle to win rounds. Used as a punch bag by Munguia and Canelo and outboxed by Liam Williams, close 2nd fight. Clearly lost to Kurbanov for me and got hurt quite a few times there too. I also think the size is a factor, Liam has never operated at 160 where Eubank has been for most of his career including 168. It's all about opinions though and I'd like to see Liam win but I think Eubank is going to make a statement here. For me, he can open up on Smith at his own leisure and basically treat him like a heavy bag in there while Smith will be struggling to land. I hope I'm wrong.

[Counter-puncher]

you're underestimating Smith's skill and ringcraft, he may not be a slickster but he's more skilled- relative to Eubank- than you're making out.

[keithmoonhangover]

you're underestimating Smith's skill and ringcraft, he may not be a slickster but he's more skilled- relative to Eubank- than you're making out.

Aren't they just, like, expressing their opinion, man?

[samwbr]

Is this at 160?

[Dioufy]

Is this at 160?

Yeah.

[Counter-puncher]

you're underestimating Smith's skill and ringcraft, he may not be a slickster but he's more skilled- relative to Eubank- than you're making out.

Aren't they just, like, expressing their opinion, man?

[KiwiRider]

This is a brilliant fight you know. Can't wait.

Same, and the poll reflects how good it is as our esteemed posters are split almost down the middle.
I like it better than the Benn fight, just because we will get to see Eubank Jr at a weight he is comfortable at, and not some corpse walking.
And Beefy has improved the last few years.

[KiwiRider]

Maybe, maybe not. I’ve not been impressed with Chris for quite awhile and with him having Roy Jones in the corner I just see Smith starting slowly with a high guard then after a few rounds just being too technically good and too busy for Eubank.

I don’t think it’ll be one-sided but I see a Smith win. Great fight though; shame I can’t watch as I refuse to pay for PPV.

Stream or radio.

Or avoid spoilers and catch it in a couple of days on youtube or similar.

[Nightmare Roy]

Decent fight but PPV?

[magnus]

Decent fight but PPV?

Good fight. Won't be watching. The last PPV I bought was Fury-Whyte, decided enough is enough.

[maverick23]

Decent fight but PPV?

It’s a really good fight. It’s on the borderline of PPV for me. Saying that I’ll almost certainly buy it as it’s a proper 50/50 I think. Hopefully it has a strong undercard which is what they hinted at.

[Boxerbeetle]

Decent fight but PPV?

It’s a really good fight. It’s on the borderline of PPV for me. Saying that I’ll almost certainly buy it as it’s a proper 50/50 I think. Hopefully it has a strong undercard which is what they hinted at.

Killing the sport

[keithmoonhangover]

you're underestimating Smith's skill and ringcraft, he may not be a slickster but he's more skilled- relative to Eubank- than you're making out.

Aren't they just, like, expressing their opinion, man?

It's nice to see you relaxing, you take this all too seriously.

[Counter-puncher]

[Nightmare Roy]

Decent fight but PPV?

It’s a really good fight. It’s on the borderline of PPV for me. Saying that I’ll almost certainly buy it as it’s a proper 50/50 I think. Hopefully it has a strong undercard which is what they hinted at.

Killing the sport

It will soon enough, anything remotely half decent you have to pay for it.

[KiwiRider]

Decent fight but PPV?

It’s a really good fight. It’s on the borderline of PPV for me. Saying that I’ll almost certainly buy it as it’s a proper 50/50 I think. Hopefully it has a strong undercard which is what they hinted at.

Killing the sport

X2
There isn't even a world title on the line, neither are huge stars, nether is or has been a world champ- in fact both have failed at the top level. This fight would have been shown on Sky Sports for free when Matchroom was aligned with them..

[GreenLightning]

I rated Liam Williams far more than Liam Smith, he had faster hands, seemingly better power, more variety, fast sharp explosive imaginative work, seemed like a beast

And Smith just broke his heart, Williams was a beaten man in both those fights despite beating Smith up for the majority of the first, Smiths will won't be broken, it doesn't break, that alone means Eubank is probably in for a fight

It's true Eubank shines against come forward plodders, but Smith has more tools and intangibles than Spike OSullivan and certainly the likes of Yildrim and Nick Blackwell, doesn't get disheartened by taking hard shots to the head and he continues to come on the whole fight, Eubank Jr has been caught between styles and we havnt seen him firing off 30 punch combos in a long time, that was how he controlled the pace because he fades, Smith won't let him control the pace, but that's where Eubanks physical strength comes in, I think that's where the natural size will really factor in Eubanks favour

Smiths guard is also a bit better than the other earmuff wearers Eubank has shined against, I think Spike O'Sullivans defence was better when he had his hands DOWN!

[Frostieballs]

Well if he loses then he has a rematch clause.

Cannot personally believe how highly some people rate former IBO world champion Chris Eubank. He’s a very good fighter but will never breach world level.

Size won’t be a huge factor. Both will likely weigh the same come fight night. You question what Liam do well; if that’s your barometer then what the hell does Chris do well apart from have an iron jaw. What fights have impressed you so much about him? Even in defeat to Canelo Liam did himself proud.

Btw… not autistic… just sarcastic.
Irony, eh?

That autism comment was weird and doesn’t really make sense.