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Chris Eubank Jr got his revenge as he stopped bitter rival Liam Smith after a one-sided battle.
The Brighton middleweight was a different animal as he delivered on his promise to right what he felt was a wrong from his January hammering at the hands of the former world champion.
Eubank Jr, 33, had his man down in the fourth before he found the finish in the 10th. ‘Next Gen’ floored a struggling Smith who beat the count for a second time, but the fight was then waved off after another onslaught saw referee Kevin Parker step in.
Smith, 35, pleaded he was fit to fight on but the bout was only going one way at that stage with it being a far cry from their last meeting as the Liverpool lacked the same sharpness from that night.
READ MORE: Meet the humongous college football player turned ring announcer for Smith vs Eubank 2
The former WBO light-middleweight champion seemed troubled by an ankle injury from early in the fight but he was flat from the off and he could have little to complain about Eubank Jr being the better man.
Smith stopped him in the fourth round eight months ago but now he will be the one chasing a rematch. The Scouser was roared into the arena just down the M62 from his home.
This should be enemy territory for a Liverpudlian but Eubank Jr is boxing’s marmite man. He looked stoic on his ringwalk while Smith seemed relaxed and happy. It was no sign of things to come, though.
What next for Chris Eubank Jr? Let us know in the comments section.
Eubank Jr cupped his right ear as the boos rang around during his introduction as Manchester Arena rocked to the sound of a love-in for Smith.
The first round was scrappy with each of them holding and referee Parker needed to step in with an early warning for both men to clean it up.
Both had three defeats on their record as they entered the ring knowing a fourth would hurt their future ambitions at middleweight, whether it be world titles or more big nights like this.
Eubank Jr, decked out in Louis Vuitton designed gear, was being roared on by new trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, who appeared happy with his early efforts.
Eubank Jr was throwing in combinations but Smith seemed content to take them on the gloves in the third. This was the first time that Eubank Jr had walked to the ring knowing he could be knocked out.
He wasn’t unbeatable before Smith got a win over him, but his chin had an air of invincibility around it ahead of that winter night at this same venue.
That vanished when Smith smashed him but it was he who hit the deck this time in the fourth as a great right uppercut sent him crashing down.
Smith beat the count easily before ‘Next Gen’ landed a lovely left hand to the body and head combination, but couldn’t find the finish in a one-sided round.
He went in behind a ramrod of a jab in the fifth and delivered an onslaught, but Smith soaked it up on the ropes. Smith then rocked Eubank Jr with an overhand right in a blistering round.
He complained he had rolled his ankle earlier in the bout but he had to dig deep here even if he was clearly struggling on his feet.
KSI takes on Tommy Fury at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, October 14th as he hopes to cause an upset. Logan Paul will also be fighting at the event in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.
From £40 to £2,000
Eubank Jr’s attacks had everything behind them – his left hook to the body sunk into Smith’s side in the sixth. ‘Beefy’ was struggling and a right uppercut broke through his guard to send his head flying back time and time again through the eighth and ninth rounds.
Smith could only muster a grin as a cut opened up over his right eye in the 10th and Eubank Jr bundled him to the floor again with a succession of shots.
Then the end came as the referee had seen enough when Eubank Jr let go another blistering combination, and he was soon celebrating his 33rd career win.
- Boxing
- Chris Eubank Jr
- Breaking News
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