Eubank Jr pledges ‘exquisite’ performance on Saturday amid dubious recollection of how January’s bruising bout unfolded
The controversial and largely unfulfilled career of Chris Eubank Jr could come to a shuddering halt on Saturday night if he suffers another bad defeat to Liam Smith in their middleweight rematch at the AO Arena in Manchester. In late January, Smith dropped Eubank Jr twice on his way to a clinical fourth-round stoppage victory.
Eubank Jr had been the marginal favourite with the usually canny bookmakers, but the real shock was the fact that he was not only badly hurt but so clearly separated from his senses that the referee had to rescue him from further damage. It was the first time Eubank Jr had been knocked down as a pro. All his boasts of possessing an “iron jaw” looked as flimsy as his suddenly fragile chin.