Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith stage open workouts
Photos credit: BOXXER/Lawrence Lustig
Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith staged open workouts at the Trafford Centre shopping mecca in Manchester on January 18, three days out from their sold-out showdown at the AO Arena Manchester.
Saturday’s event, one of the biggest fights in recent British boxing history, airs on Sky Box Office as a pay-per-view which can be purchased by Sky subscribers and non-subscribers alike.
The middleweight rivals – who have both stated that they genuinely cannot stand each other – are on collision course as they jostle for the UK's top spot and the opportunity to move forward for big opportunities, including a world title shot.
Former footballer 'Beefy' took part in a keep-uppy headers match with ex-Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher. The two Liverpudlians put on a head tennis display which lasted a very long time before Smith booted the ball out of the ring to finish.
Now a football pundit, Jamie gaved his full support to Smith, "A great family, but to watch them in the Rotunda the last few weeks, he's well prepared, as you would expect. I think we're all expecting a Liam Smith win."
The 34-year-old former WBO World super-welterweight champion dismissed Eubank's ineffective mind games, "That's just him being a clown, he thinks whatever he can say is gonna make a difference… I've fought Mexicans in Mexico, Canelo in Texas, Russians in Russia, and he thinks he a billboard is gonna make a difference to my training or my sleep at night… you're joking ain't ya! That's just Chris being Chris, but he's forgetting he's coming back to an arena that he's lost in, I can show you a picture of him with his little face with blood all over him."
This will be Smith's fourth appearance at the Manchester Arena, which holds fond memories for him, "I've become world champion here, I've defended my world title here, I've defended my British title here, Manchester is a good omen for me."
Those aforementioned titles were won at 154lbs but this clash with Chris takes place up at 160lbs, "I still have to come down to 160lbs, don't be fooled that I'm jumping up in weight so I have to put weight on, but energy levels throughout camp has been a bit different. I haven't had that little demon there saying you gotta get to 154lbs, fight week's gonna be stressed, so I'm happy, I'm in a good place."
Also working out today in front of enthralled spectators were New Zealand's former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, training partner of Tyson Fury, and Manchester man Jack Massey, who steps up to face Parker this Saturday night in the opportunity of a lifetime read more…
Friday's weigh-in takes place at Manchester Central Convention Complex and is also open to the public.More articles on Eubank vs Smith
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