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

[THEBUTCH]

KiwiRider, unlike when Eubank jnr challenged BJS & Groves i don't think Smith holds enough aces over him. If Chris is getting outworked then i think he'll recognise the need for urgency this time and is capable of stopping Smith.

[TheLeprechaun]

Eubank is not a smart fighter. He also has Jones there who will encourage messing about and "boxing". There are a couple of ways I see Smith winning.

1. If Eubank is marginally losing rounds like he was vs Williams and he is just not sharp enough to realise he is losing. A bit like the incredibly low IQ performance Yarde had vs Arthur in the first fight.

2. Smith wins rounds fairly clearly and Eubank doesn't force a rough fight and loses at range. Possible but unlikely, I think Smith loses when they are at range but could have his moments though because Eubanks isn't a smart guy.

3. Smith is able to win at range, Eubank forces the fight in the trenches, Smith is able either match Eubank in the trenches or beat him there and get back to winning the fight at range.

Eubank is the kind of guy who would probably bring an injury into the fight rather than pull out so there is also a chance that happens.

I don't think Smith gets the win but those are his win conditions.

[KiwiRider]

KiwiRider, unlike when Eubank jnr challenged BJS & Groves i don't think Smith holds enough aces over him. If Chris is getting outworked then i think he'll recognise the need for urgency this time and is capable of stopping Smith.

I can see that Chris could adjust, but I really don't see him stopping Smith. And maybe by now some of the RJJ training will be more prominent.
Smith is going to try and put it on him, no doubt, we will have to see how Eubank responds.
I'm quite looking forward to this one, as far as 2023 confirmed fights, it is the best in my view so far.

[black panther]

This would have been a brilliant fight with the old Eubank Jr who had a high volume.

This current Jones Jnr wannabe version of Eubank Jr I am not convinced.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Matty Harris set for return

Heavyweight ‘Magic’ Matty Harris (3-0, 2 KOs) will face off against Czech Republic’s Jiri Surmaj (3-2, 2KOs) on the undercard of the domestic clash of the year between Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith on January 21 at the AO Arena, Manchester.

For his last scheduled bout, Harris had to withdraw due to illness as he lay bedridden during fight week. However, he has experienced two back-to-back camps preparing for fights that unfortunately did not happen, and this is something that he believes has worked to his benefit as he continues to develop in the gym.

"Camp has been brilliant. I’ve been through multiple camps for fights that haven’t been able to materialize so I’m more than ready and I’m looking forward to it," said Harris. "I’ve improved everything across the board between my last fight and now. My footwork, my boxing ability, my punch-power; I can’t wait to get out there and perform."

“It's a pleasure to be on such a big card, and I’m going to make sure I take full advantage of the opportunity to be a part of such an event by letting people know that the rise of Matty Harris is only going to gain more momentum. People will mention my performance once the night is done.”

The Big-hitting boxer is on the hunt for a third first-round KO win in a row when he takes on his next opponent over six rounds. Harris put Mait Metsis down twice in the opening round, before ending proceedings in the first round of the fight in Newcastle on April 2 2022. The same destructive formula worked again two months later in Liverpool when Harris produced more magic by flattening Pawel Strykowski with a trademark poleaxing punch.

Standing in the way of the Coventry man’s hat-trick is Surmaj, the Czech Republican who has had an active 2022 claiming two stoppage wins and a split decision victory throughout the wins of last year. It will have to be more highlight-reel stuff from Harris as he looks to continue making statements and become the first man to stop Surmaj in the ring.

"I don’t know much about my opponent, but I’m confident in what I bring and believe the best version of me beats anyone. I foresee another knockout. A big knockout," said Harris.

"I don’t care who’s next. I don’t need to call anyone out this early in my career. I’m continuing to fulfil my potential and the only way to the top is by going through anyone and everyone."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ben Shephard screams as he's punched by Chris Eubank Jr with GMB doctor on standby

Ben Shephard was left nervous on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, as he agreed to be pummelled by middleweight boxing champion Chris Eubank Jr.

Soon enough, the boxer gave it a go and left host Ben grimacing - as his co-host Kate Garraway was heard screaming out, before laughing at the scenes unfolding.

Ben was challenged to endure 20 seconds of body punching from the boxer live on air, something he was visibly worried about.

He seemed to start off quite well though, until it all got too much for him towards the end and he began shouting out.

Chris laughed as he continued pummelling at Ben, as Kate joked that Dr Hilary Jones was on standby in case it all went terribly wrong.

She quipped: "Dr Hilary is on standby. I don't know what he will be able to do other than support and laugh."

Chris was on the show on Thursday to discuss his career, and his next fight - before they discussed his training.

It's then that Ben took on the challenge of being body punched in the stomach by Chris non-stop for 20 seconds, wearing the same belt his trainer uses.

Earlier in the show, Kate had remarked to viewers that Ben would be testing the force of Chris' punches in a challenge, to which Ben looked awkward over but said he was ready.

Kate said: "Ben is going to take a pummelling. We thought we would test the force of a punch on Ben's vital organs."

Ben went on: "I think he's knocked out 33 people. I feel a bit queasy," adding of Kate's mockery: "It's nice to get support from your friends isn't it?"

As Chris was brought onto the show it was time for the challenge to go ahead, as Ben placed the belt on and nervously asked if it would hurt.

Before the face-off Ben asked Chris: "Have you ever sparred with somebody in a shirt and tie before?"

Chris replied: "This is new. I thought I’d seen and done it all before - turns out I haven't!"

As Chris began the body punching, Ben started shouting: "Yes! Come on!", which soon turned to screams.

At the end of the task, an exhausted Ben exclaimed: "Was that the slowest 20 seconds ever!? That went on for about three days!"

As Kate asked Chris how he thought Ben did and whether there could be a rematch, he told her: "He [Ben] needs to come down to my gym next week and we need to have a proper spar!"

The pair then hugged it out, as Ben joked the challenge had left him needing a wee while he still had presenting to get on with - after co-star Ranvir Singh had asked before he 'fought' Chris: "Are you sure you don’t need a wee Ben?"

[wrighty]

Wouldn't mind Chris take on the winner of Cash and Signani if he gets through Smith

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Eubank is savage!!!

he's had a billboard put up in Manchester.



Just behind Man Utd's stadium.

[gregregegg]

Eubank is savage!!!

he's had a billboard put up in Manchester.



Just behind Man Utd's stadium.

should of put it up in Liverpool.

[skanksta]

That's great promotion that !
Stick up a few in Liverpool too - make a great atmosphere and sellout.

[Ruthless-RKO]

That's great promotion that !
Stick up a few in Liverpool too - make a great atmosphere and sellout.

It really is ain’t it?

[coneye]

I,m warming to Eubank , his theatrics ,and carry o are obviously done so tongue in cheek for a reason and it seems to work , unlike some others i don,t think theres anything malicous in it , he does rattle them with that same calm almost deluded composure , he ge nerates publicity and interest far beyond his talents ,hence earning the dollars ,,good on him. Regards the winner , i,m really 50,,,,50 on this one , i think the biggest thing Smith has going for him is Rjj training Eubank i just dont see it has a good fit , the more i see or here about Roy the more its about teachi ng to fight like he did , and thsat you cannot teach , he was so natural and good its just impossible to teach it ,, a good trainer takes a boxer and improves him , a not so good trainer says i was great so do what i did , remember jeff fenech , was he a great boxer no he was,nt , he was a freak ,, a pretty good boxer who could lose weight and retain his physical strenght therefore being too strong and able to bully his opponents , strenght att the weight was his forte ,not great boxing skills , thats why when he stepped up in weight he started getting stopped, when he took on training same thing he had his boxers starve themselves like he did , but it did,nt work for most of them just ruined them , i think Jones is the same , if Ronnie Davis was in charge i would put my money on Eubank , he,s not so i,m on the fence

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RJJ said he works with CEJ to prepare him for Canelo or GGG.

Not Liam Smith.

“Chris don’t need me to beat these guys (Liam Williams or Liam Smith), because the fighting Chris Eubank can beat both of these guys," Jones Jr said on Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe podcast. “He don’t bring me in for these particular fighters, he brings me in here to help him get better prepared for [fighters] with bigger names, like a GGG (Golovkin) or Canelo.

“Because with these guys (Golovkin, Alvarez), you can't be the old Chris that just goes out and lets his hands go, you've got to be a tactician, you've got to have a little bit more knowledge behind what you're doing. He brings me here to get him ready for the fights that he’s looking at down the line, not necessarily a particular Liam Smith or Liam Williams. I told him from the beginning, with Liam Williams and Liam Smith, he don’t need me. Neither one of these guys. The old Chris Eubank can beat both of these guys, so I’m not saying that I’m the guy –I’m not. I’m gonna add what I’m gonna add but it’s his choice to use it and he’s gotta go out and do it.”

“He's looking down the line at the bigger fights where he knows he's going to need more than just blasting people out with combinations. That won't work against these bigger guys, against Canelo or GGG.” Jones added.

[KiwiRider]

I,m warming to Eubank , his theatrics ,and carry o are obviously done so tongue in cheek for a reason and it seems to work , unlike some others i don,t think theres anything malicous in it , he does rattle them with that same calm almost deluded composure , he ge nerates publicity and interest far beyond his talents ,hence earning the dollars ,,good on him. Regards the winner , i,m really 50,,,,50 on this one , i think the biggest thing Smith has going for him is Rjj training Eubank i just dont see it has a good fit , the more i see or here about Roy the more its about teachi ng to fight like he did , and thsat you cannot teach , he was so natural and good its just impossible to teach it ,, a good trainer takes a boxer and improves him , a not so good trainer says i was great so do what i did , remember jeff fenech , was he a great boxer no he was,nt , he was a freak ,, a pretty good boxer who could lose weight and retain his physical strenght therefore being too strong and able to bully his opponents , strenght att the weight was his forte ,not great boxing skills , thats why when he stepped up in weight he started getting stopped, when he took on training same thing he had his boxers starve themselves like he did , but it did,nt work for most of them just ruined them , i think Jones is the same , if Ronnie Davis was in charge i would put my money on Eubank , he,s not so i,m on the fence

I think if Roy took a pre teen lad, and coached him from say 10-12 and said lad was intelligent and dedicated enough, then we might see the second coming of RJJ.
As for Eubank Jr, I agree with the general forum consensus that Roy hasn't really done much for Chris, in fact his lack of output may well cost him a decision at some stage - maybe this weekend if my first flutter of the year comes through

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

And our first British card of the year is PPV.

[gregregegg]

Anyone got any strong opinions on Ekow vs kongo? I disagree with the bookies and I feel like kongo should be favorite but am far from an expert on either.

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fight week is here!

WEDNESDAY
Live workout – open to public
The Trafford Centre, The Orient

THURSDAY
Press Conference
Manchester Central Convention Complex, Exchange Hall
12.45pm: Undercard press conference
1.30pm: Main Event press conference


FRIDAY
Official Weigh-In - open to public
Manchester Central Convention Complex, Exchange Hall
Scales from 1pm; main event on scales at 1.45pm