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

[thenamesnevers]

Channel 5 would be a HORRIBLE move for Eubank. Nobody is paying to watch a fight on that Channel. Even the machine of Sky Sports would struggle to get a big PPV for him, but they would stand a chance. Gokovkin or Saunders are the only fights outside of a title that are interesting.

[Spud]

Viewing figures for boxing on chanbel 5 are reportedly very good.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Viewing figures for boxing on chanbel 5 are reportedly very good.

The Gorman card ?

[THEBUTCH]

That's the worst card on Ch5 I've seen, but I bet the sheer fact it's on a free to view platform generates reasonable viewing figures.

Put a good fight on primetime Saturday night and they will hold their own with the majority of other channels

I remember Tyson Fury saying during his spell boxing on Channel 5 that he noticed he was getting recognised more by the public.

[Spud]

That's the worst card on Ch5 I've seen, but I bet the sheer fact it's on a free to view platform generates reasonable viewing figures.

Put a good fight on primetime Saturday night and they will hold their own with the majority of other channels

I remember Tyson Fury saying during his spell boxing on Channel 5 that he noticed he was getting recognised more by the public.

Spot on

[Ruthless-RKO]

Looks like this fight will be next..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Liverpool star Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith (31-3-1, 18 KOs) aims to become a two-time world champion following the signing of a multi-fight agreement with BOXXER.

The former WBO World Super Welterweight Champion has forged a formidable reputation and is now on the cusp of challenging for his second world title under the BOXXER and Sky Sports banners.

In a career spanning almost 14-years, Smith - who hails from a famed fighting family - cleaned up the 154lb division winning British, Commonwealth, WBA Continental and WBO Intercontinental titles before capturing the WBO World title in 2015 with a seventh round stoppage of Apollo Thompson and making two defences of the crown.

He then faced pound-for-pound great Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez in September 2016 and despite a brave and valiant performance that saw him get up from knockdowns in the seventh and eighth rounds he was ultimately overcome with a big body shot in the ninth.

The comeback trail saw him defeat hard Welsh rival Liam Williams in back-to-back fights to earn a shot at Jamie Munguia for the WBO 154 belt again and he became the first to take the hard-hitting Mexican the full twelve-round distance, just losing out on the scorecards.

On his return he battered renowned Midlands warrior Sam Eggington into submission in five rounds in March 2019 to win the WBC Silver belt. Although he suffered a setback in May last year in Russia against Magomed Kurbanov in a challenge for the WBO International title with a points loss.

However, this has inspired Smith to since put on two of his best career displays to show that he’s firmly back on the World title hunt. First he made a statement of intent with a brutal eighth round stoppage of Liverpool rival Anthony Fowler in their derby blockbuster last October to win the WBA International title.

He then travelled to the iconic Madison Square Garden in April this year to dominate Two-Time World Champion Jessie Vargas over twelve rounds with a powerful performance to claim the WBO Intercontinental title and show that he’s ready to face the best again.

Currently ranked in the top five in the world by the WBC, WBO and WBA, he is perfectly positioned to face one of the World Champions and is primed and ready for the opportunity.

Smith said, “I’m delighted to put pen to paper with Boxxer. I had a lot of offers but I’m glad to finally get this across the line and be back on Sky Sports. Boxxer are doing great things in the sport and making big waves and I’m happy to be part of that.

"Some of the big fights and names have excited me and I’m really looking forward to the next twelve months with my next fight to be announced shortly. I can’t wait to get back out there and challenge for a world title at 154 pounds and get everyone talking about me again.”

BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom said, “I’ve always held Liam in the highest regard in terms of his talent, boxing IQ and also resilience to keep coming back and I believe he’s now very close to realising his ambition of challenging for another world title. He’s an icon in his home city of Liverpool where he has a great following and we’re really excited to have Liam join the BOXXER stable where we have big plans for him.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development for Sky Sports, said, “Liam Smith is a great fighter, a great guy and a great signing for Boxxer and Sky Sports! We are all delighted to be working with Liam who is coming off that thrilling win over Jessie Vargas and has really big fights ahead.

“Mega matches, more world title fights and crackling action are expected for one of our most talented and experienced champions - and one of our biggest personalities! I have a soft spot for all the Smith brothers as we have virtually grown up with them. It’s brilliant having Liam and his super family support back on Sky!”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Smith has come out and said he wants the Eubank fight.

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... nges-rival

[jimmystone]

Ben Shalom is a strange one. Like I would with anybody having a go, I'd like to see him do well, but he comes across as a bullshitter at times. "I've always held Liam Smith in the highest regards in terms of his talent..." This guy has, by his own admission, only been watching boxing for a few years. He's talking like he remembers Beefy at the Rotunda. It lacks credibility. There's no need to pretend, Ben. You are doing well, don't spoil it by giving it flannel!

[KiwiRider]

Don't mind this fight at all. Cracking domestic dust up.
I might even have a little flutter on Beefy if it does happen.

[margaret thatcher]

Ben Shalom is a strange one. Like I would with anybody having a go, I'd like to see him do well, but he comes across as a bullshitter at times. "I've always held Liam Smith in the highest regards in terms of his talent..." This guy has, by his own admission, only been watching boxing for a few years. He's talking like he remembers Beefy at the Rotunda. It lacks credibility. There's no need to pretend, Ben. You are doing well, don't spoil it by giving it flannel!

he is a massive proven bullsh!tter

[Dioufy]

Williams was winning rounds v Gimpy but got dropped by nothing shots repeatedly.
Liam is a v nice, compact box fighter. I see him out working and outlanding Eubank Jones Junior.
8-4 written all over this if Smith avoids the flash knockdowns.

[margaret thatcher]

will be interesting to see how smith deals with strength/size.........he is a nicely schooled fighter, but vs mung he got ragdolled and beaten up basically because mungy was just too strong. also hurt a few times vs kurbanov, so he can be stung. eubank doesnt have much of a workrate these days but i dont doubt he'll be stronger/harder hitting

think it would be a close one at least...smith will defo wins rounds by taking it too him, but in spurts eubank can score with bigger stuff

[Dioufy]

The Mong is pretty much the biggest light middle/middle/super middle I’ve ever seen. Against Kelly I wouldn’t be surprised to see him nearly a cruiser on fight night.

Eubank walks around at 160lbs I’m sure. You can tell he takes his physique v serious and doesn’t do the bad habits.

One of those fighters who comfortably make their division but can’t drop down because they’re lean all year around.

I’m sure Conor Benn said that he asked Eubank what he weighs when they bumped into each other with neither of them having a fight planned and Benn was slightly heavier.

Smith might even be the heavier man on fight night imo.

[TheLeprechaun]

Another poor fight from eubank if it happens.

[golden_labrador]

better than fighting Conor Benn?

sounds like the GGG train has gone now

[Glass Joe]

Eubank Jr and big fight names don't really go together. Eubank best win is either Nick Blackwell or a shot degale.

[golden_labrador]

Eubank Jr and big fight names don't really go together. Eubank best win is either Nick Blackwell or a shot degale.

the bodyslam in the latter was pretty good though

[wrighty]

I don't get why Eubank didnt go for the Signani fight for the European title. He was fairly light hitting but had a ranking. It would have helped Chris's career

[Ruthless-RKO]

LIAM SMITH OFFERS DATE FOR CHRIS EUBANK JR. FIGHT

The former world champion is also looking for his second belt.

Former world champion Liam Smith is hoping to fight Chris Eubank Jr. after he takes on Hassan Mwakinyo.

The 154lb pair fight this Saturday in Liverpool and Smith hopes to make the fight a stepping stone to bigger things.

“I’m glad to be back in Liverpool, this last fight I had in this arena was a memorable night for me and fully intend on doing the same thing again to Hassan,” he told Sky Sports.

“He’s a dangerous opponent, heavy handed, obviously had some good wins, but I’m not any of the other Brits, I’m the best 154 in Britain and I’m hoping to become a two-time world champion.

“I’ll show why I’m levels above.”

Despite his future plans he insisted that he was not being complacent.

“I’ve had that with many opponents, I had that with Anthony Fowler. I’ve had that in my career,” he started.

“I’m from too good a family and too good a gym to overlook anybody.You’ll see that by the shape I’m in. I’m too long in the tooth to give someone a chance.

“This puts me up maybe into a mandatory shot or if they become fragmented maybe challenge for a vacant title. I’m fully focused on that.”

He then said he was looking for a big fight, even if it was not for a title, and would take on Eubank Jr. if the bout was offered.

“I wanted a huge fight, whether it was a title fight or a Chris Eubank fight,” he said.

“Whether Eubank comes next is up to other people. I’ll take that next again. I’ll fight Chris Eubank tomorrow. They know that and Chris knows that.

“The message is I’ll beat Hassan, that’s my homecoming and then it’s a huge fight next.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Terminator666]

I’d like to see that but can’t it happening

[Ruthless-RKO]

Liam Smith Could Face Eubank Jr, Brook or Go For World Title, Says Shalom

Former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith is looking for the biggest fight possible, according to his promoter Ben Shalom of BOXXER.

Smith's return may potentially land in the month of December.

One possible option is Chris Eubank Jr. - who earlier this month was scheduled to face Conor Benn in a catch-weight bout. The fight was canceled when Benn tested positive for a banned substance.

Another possible option is former world champion Kell Brook, who announced his retirement from the sport in May. Brook saw action at the start of the year when he knocked out domestic rival Kell Brook. He is reportedly considering the possibility of a ring return.

"Liam's next fight I think it's going to be either Kell, Chris or a world title," Shalom told Sky Sports.

"There's a lot of fallout from the Eubank-Benn situation that I imagine Wasserman [Eubank's promoters] are going through and who knows what they're having to deal with right now? But Liam Smith's now ready for his big fight, as I say whether that's Kell, whether that's Chris or a world title. He's now the biggest fight for a lot of people. There's a lot of options for Liam."

Smith, 34-years-old, returned to the ring in September and took out Hassan Mwakinyo in four rounds. In two fights prior, Smith knocked out Jesse Vargas and Anthony Fowler.

"He's due a big fight, he's due a second world title as well so he wants to win another world title as much as he wants the big fights," Shalom said.

"It's something he deserves since the Kurbanov fight in Russia that we feel he won, after the Fowler fight, the Vargas fight. His next fight's going to hopefully be a career-defining one and he's only got better with age. Right now he's a formidable opponent for anyone."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith in Talks For December 17

Talks are currently taking place for a year-end clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith, according to The Daily Star.

If a deal is reached, the fight would land on December 17th.

The 33-year-old Eubank Jr. was scheduled to return to the ring on October 8th, in a catch-weight bout with Conor Benn, but the fight fell apart when Benn tested positive for a banned substance. It was later revealed that Benn had tested positive for the same banned substance in a separate drug test.

Initially, it was believed that Eubank-Benn would be rescheduled to a later date in the year, but that now appears unlikely as Benn is being investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping.

Smith, a former junior middleweight champion, would have to move up to the middleweight limit to take the fight with Eubank. Smith's last bout took place at 160-pounds, when he stopped Hassan Mwakinyo in four rounds back in September.

The ball is now in Eubank's court, as Smith recently made it clear that he's ready and willing to face him on the previously mentioned December date.

“I was open to that fight before he decided to fight Conor and now the Benn fight is off there is probably only one fight in Britain left for him and that’s me," Smith told Sky Sports.

“It’s an easy fight to make and I think we are both willing to fight each other so I am sure that it can be made. I would be ready for December, I fought in September and - by my usual process - I would be ready to go again in December.”

[keithmoonhangover]

Good fight this and a great opportunity for Liam. Eubank will win and Kalle should move heaven and earth to get the GGG fight.