Beefy and Eubank kick the New Year off with a bang!
The first UK fight of 2023 couldn’t get any better! Pressure fighter Liam Smith (32-3-1, 19KO) and stylist Chris Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23KO) collide in Manchester on Saturday, January 21, in a 12-round middleweight contest.
Both Brits have been world champions. Liam Smith was WBO super-welterweight world champion between 2015-2016. Although his reign lasted less than a year – 11 months and 7 days – he managed to defend the belt three times – two successfully via KO, defeated in his third defence to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
Chris Eubank Jr. has won IBO World super-middleweight and WBA Interim middleweight titles twice, although he's yet to prove himself as a dominant world champion.
Regardless of this, both are well above domestic level and equally placed in the world rankings. Eubank is ranked WBC #2, WBA #6, WBO #2, IBO #2 at middleweight, and Smith is WBC #3, WBA #4, IBF #6, WBO #2, IBO #3.
Could either become a world champion again? Smith would have to face undisputed super-welterweight ruler Jermell Charlo – that’s a tough fight for him – and Eubank would have to challenge Jermall Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin or Janibek Alimkhanuly – which are all winnable options for the Brighton boxer.
With their shared lofty world rankings, a victory in this fight could present a world title shot next for the winner. But who will that be…
‘Beefy’ has a granite chin. In the first few rounds of his fight with Fowler, he absorbed some big right hands from the Liverpudlian, who is heavy handed – he’s knocked out 12 opponents from his 16 wins. He took those shots, never faltering in his advancements, to stop Fowler with a big right hand of his own in round eight.
The 34-year-old hides behind a high guard, playing peekaboo, where he likes to step in to fight in close range. His best asset is his relentless pressure, which forces his foes to fight at a fast pace.
Against Canelo in 2016, Smith got his wish – to fight at close range and exchange toe to toe. The problem was that Canelo was just that much better – more accurate, varied and powerful. In round seven, the Mexican landed a three-punch combination – right hook head, left hook body, right hook head – which downed the Brit for the first time in the fight. He was down again from a body shot in the eighth, then another left hook to the body in the ninth finished him off.
His next defeat was Jaime Munguia, another world champion. His third loss and most recent reverse was to unbeaten Russian Magomed Kurbanov in 2021, but many saw that controversial decision courtesy of some biased judging. Now 34, the Merseysider has reeled off three impressive TKO victories to take him into his 15th year and 37th bout as a professional.
Since teaming up with the legendary Roy Jones Jr., Brighton boxer Eubank has become a completely different fighter. No longer is he aggressive and wild, wearing his heart upon his sleeve, fighting fire with fire; he is now poised, patient, economical, accurate, flashy and elusive.
Having spent the majority of his career claiming to be self-taught, guided by his father and Ronnie Davies, not receiving instructions in the corner during fights; 33-year-old Eubank’s alliance with RJJ has been very productive.
Brief stints with Adam Booth and Nate Vazquez failed to blossom into anything fruitful, but a chance meeting during lockdown, saw the two Juniors hit it off and have been working together for almost three years now, about to enter into their fourth fight as a team.
The four-weight world champion has turned Eubank into a far more technical fighter, but it’s his mindset that he has been able to change dramatically. Chris said himself that Jones taught him it’s not about going to war every time. He believes the American has added years to his career, by improving him mentally more than physically. He used to be wild, swinging shots in regardless of where they would land, but just desperately trying to match his opponent to not be beaten or bullied. That’s no longer his mindset, he now believes in his ability to be able to go into fights as a marathon not a sprint. He used to want to hurt his opponents as early as possible, but now he now believes in endurance over explosiveness.
Betting Odds
The odds have Eubank favourite to win at 4/9 with Betway, while Smith is a slight underdog at 9/5. What’s surprising is that the odds for a draw are very low at 14/1, suggesting that it’s a very possible outcome.
Predictions
These two Brits are both very established at domestic level and have each spent a period of time as world champions. Some argue the IBO isn’t a world title, but, for me, as an organisation they are very reputable and honest, so I have never had any reason to disregard them as a recognised governing body, and they have had some big-name champions such as Gennadiy Golovkin, Anthony Joshua, Ricky Hatton.
As you can see, these two are very equally matched on paper – both former world champs, British champs, a couple of losses each, similar KO ratios, and almost identical world ranking positions.
In terms of styles, they couldn’t be any more different. Smith will want to fight up close, but Eubank’s reformed style will likely see him try to maintain a safe distance where he will try to pick Smith off with his quicker hands. Whenever they do go head to head, Eubank is very cute on the inside and will likely be able to land some damaging shots.
Smith is stubborn, solid and strong. He isn't the biggest puncher, but everything is meaningful and designed to break opponents down. If Eubank is sensible, he will try to take small half steps out of range to be able to reel off his own eyecatching shots.
I think Eubank will be cute and clever and frustrate Smith to win on points, but expect a late surge from Smith to make an exciting end to the contest.
