Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr: Liverpudlian admits rematch in Manchester could spell end for both fighters | Boxing News
Liam Smith says the loser of his highly anticipated rematch with Chris Eubank Jr on September 2 at the AO Arena in Manchester should retire.
When the middleweight pair met in January, Smith stopped Eubank Jr. early in the fourth round, but has revealed he will stop fighting after his next loss.
The Liverpudlian also suggested that the 33-year-old Eubank should take off his gloves when he loses, but joked that his opponent’s arrogance would prevent him from walking away from the game.
talking to sky gameSmith, who will turn 35 next week, said: “Defeat is not an option. I’ve said it before, my next defeat will probably be my last, so there’s your answer.
“He came back after a stoppage loss. I would probably predict that he will come back after another stoppage loss as well and then it is up to Chris and his team, but losing to me twice at the age of 33, is his ambition of becoming world champion still realistic enough? Probably not.
“I think maybe he’ll have his work cut out after that but with Chris and his ego, he probably won’t.”
rematch, which will be live sky sports box office, This would be the third time he was asked as the fight was postponed twice during the summer due to injuries to Smith. But Smith is confident that he is fully fit now.
He added: “I have fully recovered and am back in the gym full-time. September 2 is not far away and I am looking forward to it and I have said it before, I am eager to scratch that itch.”
“I do everything right in the gym. I’m a better fighter than Chris Eubank Jr. I proved it last time and I’ll prove it again.”
I think maybe he’ll have his work cut out after this but with Chris and his ego, he probably won’t be able to do that.
For Eubank Jr., there was a chance at redemption and another defining night in his career when his title aspirations were dealt a major blow in their opening meeting, which he felt was stopped too early.
Smith replied: “That’s pretty typical Chris. I think Chris is the only person, including his team, who believes the referee was at fault for that stoppage. I think the fight could have been stopped on the first knockdown and no one would have complained.”
“Because Chris has activated the rematch clause, he has to give some sort of explanation for the first fight.
“He has a point to prove to a lot of people and he has a point to prove to himself because he has to change the result of the first fight but I’m pretty sure as long as old Liam Smith turns up, the result will be the same.
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Eubank Jr admits his ‘career is at risk’ in rematch against British rival Smith
Smith revealed that his back injury is the only thing keeping him from playing in the rematch at the AO Arena in September.
“While I’ve recovered, I have a good team who make sure I train properly. They make sure I’m involved,” he added.
Smith described his controversial points defeat to Magomed Kurbanov in Russia two years ago as a major setback, but he still hopes to become world champion again.
He added: “Perhaps because I had a defeat in Russia which was probably not a defeat, I thought ‘my next defeat will be my last’ and [particularly] The age I’m at I have an ambition to be world champion again and to lose to someone along the way, not for the world title, that makes the world title a million miles away so I’m just going to focus on myself.”
Watch Smith vs Eubank II live on 2 September on Sky Sports Box Office. Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday 25 July. Sign up at Boxxer.com for exclusive access.
