BoxRec

Press Release

Repeat or revenge?

That is the question set to be answered on Saturday, June 17 when bitter rivals Chris Eubank Junior and Liam Smith return to Manchester’s AO Arena in a high-stakes rematch presented by BOXXER, in association with Wasserman Boxing – and live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Months of build-up and high tensions in fight week set the stage for a classic encounter in January, with 20,000 fans inside the sold-out Manchester Arena joined by a huge television audience which set a new domestic pay-per-view record for the weight class.

With both fighters eager for a definitive finish, there was little in the way of a feeling-out process. Heavy leather was traded from the opening bell – and it was all over twelve minutes later, the referee stepping in front of Eubank Jnr to wave the fight off in the fourth round.

The result did little to settle tensions between the two men and they rose further with speculation that one of the knockdowns had been the result of an illegal elbow strike.

On June 17, that friction will intensify as both men return to the Manchester Arena for a clash which will change the course of their careers.

For Eubank (32-3, 23 KO’s), victory means redemption and will put him back on track for showdowns with elite names on the world stage.

Chris Eubank Jr said: “Liam had the night of his life against me in January, the stars aligned for him in Manchester, and he went away with a big win.

“But lightning doesn’t strike twice. If he even has the slightest thought that he can beat me again, then great, because it will be his undoing.”
For former WBO champion Smith (33-3-1, 20 KO’s), a second win will stamp his authority on the domestic division and set the stage for huge future world title opportunities.

Liam Smith said: “I know he tried his best to go a different route but the fight is on now and I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say for himself in the build up. Let’s see what angle he comes with this time.
“He can’t come with angles about how he’s never been hurt, he’s never been dropped, he’s never been stopped, because he just had all three of those things happen to him in one night and it was me who did it to him. So I’m interested to see what he comes with this time and I’m also interested to see where he goes after I beat him again on June 17th.”

Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, said: “Hell hath no fury like a Eubank scorned and there was no chance Chris was going to let this one lie. He’s a wounded animal and this makes him extremely dangerous. No sooner had the fight finished, then Chris made it clear that he wanted to trigger the rematch clause and on June 17, he gets his shot at revenge. Smith, you have been warned. Beast mode is on!”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER Founder and CEO, said: “There are moments in this business where you have goosebumps, your stomach is churning and the atmosphere is so intense you’re almost shaking. That’s what Smith vs Eubank Jr was like. The atmosphere in that arena was unbelievable. There was an absolute wall of noise when both fighters walked out and it didn’t stop until well after the final bell. The rematch will take all of that to a whole new level.

“For Liam Smith a second win – especially by stoppage – will underline that he is a world-level contender who will be threatening some of the division’s belt holders next. And for Eubank his future is almost certainly on the line. It’s incredibly bold of him to take the rematch in the North-West again, in an area which is set to be full again with thousands of Smith’s fans.”

Sky Sports Box Office will exclusively screen the bout in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Pricing details, as set by Sky, will be released in due course along with further announcements on the full, exciting undercard.

For the latest updates and information on Eubank Jr vs Smith, go to WassermanBoxing.com and Boxxer.com.

Pre-register for tickets now at BOXXER.com.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 11:27 It’s being reported that Eubank is likely to trigger the rematch clause against Liam Smith.

Looking at Anfield in May.

I'd be amazed if he didn't, his ego is too big to chicken out of a rematch.

Controversial wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 11:42

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 11:27 It’s being reported that Eubank is likely to trigger the rematch clause against Liam Smith.

Looking at Anfield in May.

I'd be amazed if he didn't, his ego is too big to chicken out of a rematch.

And fair play to him - to lose like that and take an immediate rematch...?
Hat's off to CEJ

If it's at 160, he gets chinned again, he can't make that weight.

Can't see the attraction of this, is this what the elbow crap was leading up to.

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:24 If it's at 160, he gets chinned again, he can't make that weight.

I’m not so sure, I initially thought that but he weighed in under the limit and that’s after videoing himself eating KFC etc

Controversial wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:44

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:24 If it's at 160, he gets chinned again, he can't make that weight.

I’m not so sure, I initially thought that but he weighed in under the limit and that’s after videoing himself eating KFC etc

He looked drained on the scales to me, hard to tell for sure becuase of the beard.

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:24 If it's at 160, he gets chinned again, he can't make that weight.

I remember Smith saying he’d like the rematch around 158.

Never gonna happen.

Let’s hope he changes trainer beforehand and gets back to having a high work rate.

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 13:03

Controversial wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:44

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:24 If it's at 160, he gets chinned again, he can't make that weight.

I’m not so sure, I initially thought that but he weighed in under the limit and that’s after videoing himself eating KFC etc

He looked drained on the scales to me, hard to tell for sure becuase of the beard.

Yeah I thought that but I guess most are boiling down to an unnatural weight before rehydrating. I know Roy Jones said his weight was fine, I guess the rematch will tell

well, the problem with drained guys isnt that they can't make weight necessarily, it's that they put or try to put themselves at a weight they shouldnt be. it's often by making the limit that they poof themselves

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 13:03

Controversial wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:44

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:24 If it's at 160, he gets chinned again, he can't make that weight.

I’m not so sure, I initially thought that but he weighed in under the limit and that’s after videoing himself eating KFC etc

He looked drained on the scales to me, hard to tell for sure becuase of the beard.

He looked fine on the scales to me.
Sure the beard may have hidden hollowed cheeks - maybe. But his eyes were not in the least sunken, and overall he looked really healthy.

Won’t be Anfield.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:31 Won’t be Anfield.

Anfield is licensed by LCC and logistically able to put on events other than football.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:31 Won’t be Anfield.

Could see it selling out with some decent promotional work

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 17:01

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:31 Won’t be Anfield.

Could see it selling out with some decent promotional work

Why hasn’t anyone else done it? Neary v Holligan, Smith v Dodson/Quigley/DeGale, Callum v Rocky from Stocky all sold out. Boomer got nowhere near selling out Goodison.

samwbr wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:39

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:31 Won’t be Anfield.

Anfield is licensed by LCC and logistically able to put on events other than football.

I know. My dad went to see The Rolling Stones there last year.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:12 well, the problem with drained guys isnt that they can't make weight necessarily, it's that they put or try to put themselves at a weight they shouldnt be. it's often by making the limit that they poof themselves

Sometimes, obviously some just can’t make weight and weigh in over the limit but I think the difference with Eubank is he doesn’t blow up between fights, I can’t imagine it’s a massive struggle to make 160.

skanksta wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 12:04

Controversial wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 11:42

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 11:27 It’s being reported that Eubank is likely to trigger the rematch clause against Liam Smith.

Looking at Anfield in May.

I'd be amazed if he didn't, his ego is too big to chicken out of a rematch.

And fair play to him - to lose like that and take an immediate rematch...?
Hat's off to CEJ

Yep, he won me over by taking the loss on the chin, as it were.

Nothing wrong with Jnrs cojones

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:12 well, the problem with drained guys isnt that they can't make weight necessarily, it's that they put or try to put themselves at a weight they shouldnt be. it's often by making the limit that they poof themselves

I agree.

Weight was an issue, Eubank has been down around that weight and even lower since the Benn fight. No one in their right mind can honestly think maintaining a fighting weight for a number of months doesn't have a negative effect. Which is effectivley what Jr has done.

I think he might be done tbh, he hasn't looked good since going back to middle. The Morrison fight was a poor dispaly, never did quite figure that one out. but it makes more sense now. Williams was all over the shop in their fight and somehow made the later rounds compettiive.

No wonder there was so much conffidence in the Benn poultry camp

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑03 Feb 2023, 04:22

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:12 well, the problem with drained guys isnt that they can't make weight necessarily, it's that they put or try to put themselves at a weight they shouldnt be. it's often by making the limit that they poof themselves

I agree.

Weight was an issue, Eubank has been down around that weight and even lower since the Benn fight. No one in their right mind can honestly think maintaining a fighting weight for a number of months doesn't have a negative effect. Which is effectivley what Jr has done.

I think he might be done tbh, he hasn't looked good since going back to middle. The Morrison fight was a poor dispaly, never did quite figure that one out. but it makes more sense now. Williams was all over the shop in their fight and somehow made the later rounds compettiive.

No wonder there was so much conffidence in the Benn poultry camp

Out of training I think he's around 170lb so I doubt he's been under 160 for almost 4 months, he got down for the Benn fight and would've put weight on when it fell through, he doesn't balloon up in weight like some and keeps in shape so dropping 10lbs isn't out the ordinary. When you think Hatton was putting on several stone between fights, drinking and living a party lifestyle and it took years for it to take its toll on him.

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 17:01

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Feb 2023, 16:31 Won’t be Anfield.

Could see it selling out with some decent promotional work

its unlikley due to the new stand project meaning there is 1 saturday night at the end of the footie season to land on and no alternative dates .

It really can't be PPV again can it?

I know Chris is the house fighter but can the pundits really keep a straight face selling this?

Ezzard wrote: ↑03 Feb 2023, 05:38 It really can't be PPV again can it?

I know Chris is the house fighter but can the pundits really keep a straight face selling this?

I think it's a fascinating matchup. Eubank trained and cut weight for Benn and had issues outside the ring. I think he will be 100% focused for the next fight. I'm really looking forward to it.