Chris Eubank Jr says he must ‘right the wrong’ of being beaten by Liam Smith
Chris Eubank #ChrisEubank
Chris Eubank Jr says he has to “right the wrong” of being beaten by Liam Smith.
The 33-year-old veteran middleweight took a reputational beating earlier this year when he suffered a fourth-round stoppage loss to Liam Smith, 27, at the AO Arena, Manchester after Eubank talked down to his rival, suggesting he would not need to be at full strength to defeat him.
He told BBC 5 Love Boxing about his regrets over the fight: “It’s the one that I needed, not that I one that I wanted. I can’t let this man walk through life for the rest of his life saying that he beat me.
“I have to right that wrong. I have to even the score. I have the show the people that I am the better fighter.
“I know I’m the better fighter. But most of the people now think Liam Smith is the better fighter. I can’t live with that.”
Eubank rejected the argument he was “out on his feet” when the referee waived off the fight in the fourth round against Smith.
He insisted: “I know I’m a better fighter than this guy and he just has a win over me that’s going to be on my record for the rest of my life.
“It’s not like I went in there and he battered me for four rounds and knocked me out. In my opinion I dominated the first three rounds and then I got caught. So, I’m annoyed. I need to avenge that loss. I need to get my get back.”
A Eubank v Smith rematch has been postponed twice, with their second date of 1 July ruled out after Smith suffered a training injury.
But Smith’s promoter BOXXER are in the process of setting down a new date.
Promoter Eddie Hearn from Matchroom is also attempting to revive a deal for Eubank to face unbeaten welterweight Conor Benn, 26, after their fight fell apart last October when Benn tested positive for a banned substance.
Hearn told IFL TV in March: “Six months on, having talked about this every day, we’re ready to announce Conor Benn’s next fight.
“I can’t wait because I’m done talking about it. Everyone can have their opinion about it and I’ll always answer questions about it but it’s time now for Conor Benn to get back in the ring.
“Love him, hate him, write him off whatever you want to do, I don’t care, I just want to see him fight again.
“We will be dropping big fight news. He will be fighting in June and there will be further details in due course.”