Sports Desk
MANCHESTER, UK: Middleweight boxer Liam Smith stopped fellow Briton Chris Eubank Jr. in four astonishing rounds to bring a bitter rivalry to an explosive end.
After a dominant third round from Eubank, Liverpool’s Smith floored Eubank twice in the fourth round before the referee waved off the contest at the Manchester Arena.
It was the first stoppage defeat of Eubank Jr’s career. The 33-year-old who is the son of legendary British middleweight boxer Christopher Eubank Snr had been unbeaten since 2018.
Smith, who had moved up in weight, came into the bout as the underdog, despite formerly holding the title of super-welterweight world champion.
There were rapturous celebrations among Smith’s team following his victory. The two fighters hugged at the end, putting an end to the rivalrous and tense atmosphere of the fight week.
‘Open to a rematch,’ says Smith
Smith said in his post-fight interview that people got too carried away with Chris Eubank Jr’s chin, saying “I knew he was good enough to knock him out.” He added that he was open to a rematch.
Smith held the WBO light-middleweight title from 2015 to 2016. He also reigned as the British and Commonwealth light-middleweight champion between 2012 and 2015.
