Liam Smith doesn’t think Chris Eubank Jr. truly wanted to take their rematch.
Eubank exercised his contractual right to an immediate rematch with Smith on February 14, but more recently re-engaged in negotiations to reschedule his ill-fated fight versus rival Conor Benn. Eubank boxed Smith on January 21 because his high-profile showdown with Benn was canceled the week of a grudge match that was set for October 8 at O2 Arena in London due to Benn’s failed performance-enhancing drug tests.
Smith stunningly stopped Eubank in the fourth round of their middleweight match three months ago at AO Arena in Manchester, England. Their rematch, which will headline a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view show, has been scheduled for June 17 at AO Arena.
Liverpool’s Smith doubted the 33-year-old Eubank’s desire after suffering the first knockout defeat of his career to fight Smith again during a press conference Tuesday in Manchester.
“I know he tried everything to make the Conor Benn fight, but to save face he had to take this rematch,” Smith said. “If he wants to go any further in his career, he has to take this rematch. And obviously he’s got big things to deal with in front of him now because he’s got a lotta demons to come over.”
Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) doesn’t think there is anything Eubank can do, mentally or physically, to beat him in their second encounter.
“No, I don’t believe he does,” Smith said. “I believe it’s the same outcome. I believe it’s a Liam Smith win.”
Brighton’s Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs) contended during their press conference that he should’ve been afforded an opportunity to continue during the fourth round by referee Victor Loughlin.
Smith blasted Eubank with a left uppercut and then a left hook that caused the first knockdown of Eubank’s career 45 seconds into the fourth round. A stunned Eubank got up quickly, but he couldn’t stand up straight.
A disoriented Eubank attempted to hold Smith once Loughlin allowed the action to continue. Smith’s short right hand on the inside sent Eubank to the canvas again, though.
Loughlin stopped their fight after Eubank went down for the second time, 1:09 into the fourth round of a Sky Sports Box Office main event that was scheduled for 12 rounds.
Several seconds later, Smith’s trainer, Joe McNally, had to pull Eubank away from Smith before Eubank could throw a punch after Loughlin halted the action.
Smith dismissed Eubank’s assessment Tuesday of his ability to continue.
“You don’t need to be a genius to see, you know, he’s falling over everywhere,” Smith said. “He got his chance after the first knockdown. He goes down again. Gets up, falls straight into the referee. The referee stops the count as soon as he falls the second time around. You know, you got fighters commenting, saying, you know, it could’ve easily been stopped that first time. Everybody in this room, being around boxing for a long time and [who] know boxing, he got given his credit for his history so to speak.
“You know, he got given the chance to carry on after that first knockdown. Any other fighter gets stopped after that first knockdown. You can’t fall forward five steps and let the referee, you know, you got up too quick. That’s your mistake. You shoulda been stopped. He gave you the chance. You went down again. You fell over again.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.