Chris Eubank Jr weighs in wearing rainbow armband after Liam Smith questioned his sexuality at their controversial press conference

Chris Eubank Jr proudly wore a rainbow armband at Friday’s weigh-in ahead of his fight with Liam Smith.

The two British middleweights, who will meet on Saturday night in Manchester, caused controversy at their press conference on Thursday as broadcaster Sky Sports apologised for their ‘homophobic’ and ‘personal’ argument.

Sky

Eubank Jr wore a rainbow armband after Smith questioned his sexuality

The spat began with discussion of their recent DM (direct messages) dispute.

Eubank Jr revealed earlier in the week that Smith had messaged him personally to continue their war of words.

At Thursday’s press conference, Eubank Jr joked: “You slid into my DMs. I’m used to seeing girls in my DMs, I’m not used to seeing guys.”

This prompted a reaction from Smith, who asked: “Chris, you go on about girls mate, has anybody in this room ever seen you with a girl?

“Have you got something to tell us? Because you’re 33. Do you wanna tell us something?

“Because nobody in this room has ever seen you with a woman.”

The press conference was very controversial

Eubank Jr appeared understandably surprised and replied: “Listen, my private life is my private life. That’s irrelevant to the boxing, but I’m happy, I’m comfortable.”

Smith asked again: “Do you have something you wanna tell us?”

To which Eubank Jr responded: “It’s a very personal question to ask me directly. You can slide in my DMs or you can do it right now.”

Smith concluded this portion of the back-and-forth by saying: “I’m not that type of way mate, I like women.”

Sky

Eubank Jr wore the armband on the scales

Later in the presser, Eubank Jr decided not to let the comment go.

He said: “If you wanna get dark and personal with it, talking about being gay and do I like girls? I’ve been told by multiple sources that you cheat on your wife on occasion.

“So glass houses mate. Let’s just relax on the personal stuff. I’d rather be gay than a cheat.”

Smith replied: “You haven’t got a missus to cheat on.”

Getty

Eubank Jr and Smith both weighed in at 159lbs

At this point the argument was interrupted and swiftly moved on from.

When the press conference concluded, Sky presenter Anna Woolhouse apologised for the ‘offensive language’ and ‘homophobic’ remarks.

Fellow presenter Andy Clarke agreed that the content of the conversation was ‘personal’ and ‘homophobic’.