Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr. 2 – Who wins the rematch?
Repeat or Revenge? Who will win the rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. (32-3, 23KO) and Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith (33-3-1, 20KO) on Saturday, September 2 in the AO Arena, Manchester?
Hear what BBN’s panel of boxing experts think:
Roy Jones Jr.Eubank's former trainer
“Chris knows what he has to do in this fight, and he knew after the fight with Liam what he should have done. Hopefully he will listen to Bo Mac and get it across to him that you have to go out there and make it a fight and you can't be moving around and boxing because Liam's a straightforward guy who is going to bring it to you. You have to deal with it, or he's going to run over you. He's going to keep coming at you all night, so hopefully this time he will meet him head on and see what happens.
“To me, the most significant factor in Eubank's performance against Smith was Chris being up here [motivated] to fight Benn – and then got pulled down to no fight – and then he met a better fighter than Benn in Liam Smith – but at a lower level of expectancy, because the Benn-Eubank rivalry was so big. When it became Liam Smith instead, it kind of took away from the hype. And Smith was more dangerous than Benn because of the size difference.
“I think he wins the fight. When I got to camp last time I told him you don't need me for this fight and that might have been a mistake. And maybe that's why he started second guessing me. Because I didn't feel that he needed me for the fight because it would have been better to fight Smith the old Chris Eubank way. You don't need to box Smith, you need to go out there and fight. You don't need me for this, you need you for this. You need to be the old Eubank and get down, right dirty and fight. That's what my instructions were on day one. The boxing that Roy taught him, that he was adapting to very well, was not what he needed to fight Smith. You can't box Liam Smith if you haven't been a boxer your whole career. Even Canelo boxed [Smith] for a little while, then met him head on. I never thought Liam could hurt Chris, which tells me the elbow had a lot to do with it, so if he meets him head on, he's the bigger stronger fighter.
“I got highly criticised for the way he fought but he didn't fight the way I told him to fight.”
Kell Brook World champion
“He [Eubank Jr.] will get dealt with again. What he was saying about an illegal elbow is a load of rubbish.”
Barry McGuigan World champion
“Not by the way he [Eubank] was beaten in the last fight, you know. He was categorically destroyed. He was broken up and knocked out. He looked vulnerable. He looked like he’d been down on the weight for too long. It didn’t look like he had really rehydrated before the fight.
It just looked like he wasn’t strong. The bottom line was Smith make him look like that, he made it look easy. I don’t see there being a change in the result. It might take a bit longer this time but ultimately Smith will win again.”
Robbie Davies Jr. British & European champion
“I just think Liams fundamental’s are far superior to Chris’s.
“I think Chris might try something new this time as boxing and moving in the first fight didn’t work to plan. He could try and fight more this fight. But I think even if the fight lasts longer, I still believe it will be the same outcome.
“Smith win within the distance.”
Miles Shinkwin English champion
“I picked Liam in the first fight. He’s better at everything. There isn’t one area you’d give Eubank the edge. He’s naturally bigger but that doesn’t bother Liam at all, obviously.
“I’d be surprised if he stopped him as quickly this time as I think Junior will be cautious early, it’s win or bust for him. I can see Smith breaking him down and stopping him between 8-12.”
Tim Rickson BBN Editor
“Even though we have seen these two rivals in the ring together already, giving us some idea, I actually find this fight almost impossible to predict.
“So, if I talk through some scenarios, I'd imagine Eubank will try to keep this fight long. In the first three rounds of the first fight, he was reeling off multiple flashy uppercuts on the outside while Smith adopted his usual tucked up tight, peekaboo stance, and was also guilty of waiting too long, which is why he got a right talking to from trainer Joe McNally in the corner.
“I could see the fight starting the same way, with Smith trying to get close and Eubank keeping him at range. But it's impossible to keep ‘Beefy’ away for 12 rounds, so he will get at him at some point with his constant pressure and stalking. He also has that confidence knowing he can hurt this man, so if he traps him on the ropes then he will unload in barrages to try to get something, anything, through like he did last time.
“So, I think Eubank has a possibility to win the fight on points by playing safe and staying sensible on the outside, but then Smith could force a stoppage if he is able to trap him again. I'm going to go with a patient Smith stoppage win in the later rounds 9-12.”
Matt Marsh British champion
“I think Eubank going to be very wary of Smith, but I think it’s going to be the same result as last time.
“Smith to win later rounds.”
Jamie Arlain British Challenge belt champion
“I can see this one going exactly same way as the first fight, for me. I’m going Smith stoppage.”
Aqib TahlatBBN Writer
“Liam Smith had a great performance in the first fight and caught Eubank with some big shots.
“I always tend to lean towards the winner of the first fight in rematches unless there was controversy.
“I don’t know what it is, if it’s the confidence of Eubank Jr, like he is every fight or if it’s because Eubank took him lightly in the first fight but I have Eubank winning this.
“Liam Smith is a very accomplished fighter but a 100% determine Eubank, I believe, can win on Saturday. Also being alongside Bo Mac makes him a slight favourite for me because he’s a very accomplished trainer.
“Eubank by late stoppage.”
Daniel SmithBBN Writer
“In their first fight, Chris Eubank came out against Smith fashioning a counterfeit Roy Jones Jr style of boxing. Watching as Eubank Jr attempted to imitate his trainer’s movements and stance, one might have been fooled into believing that all Jones’s knowledge and ability within pugilism was successfully bottled and drank by his protégé. However, despite having slight success with the jab, it was apparent during initial exchanges that the only boxer capable of fighting like Roy Jones Jr was in fact, Roy Jones Jr of the past.
“Smith slipped shots and soaked up anything Eubank managed to tag him with, and with fifteen seconds before the bell of the opening round, Liam had Eubank trapped in the corner and almost ended the fight in similar fashion to what we later witnessed in round four. But Eubank managed to duck and slide out of harm’s way, saving his skin for another seven-minutes and seventeen-seconds until Liam ended the bout with a vicious surge of punches.
“This time around, it’s difficult to see beyond Eubank beating Liam Smith from either approach of boxing on the outside and grabbing a points win or simply meeting his man in the center of the ring for a scrap. Therefore, I’m picking a Liam Smith stoppage.”
Arijan Goricki IBO International title contender
“I think that if Eubank returns to the old preparations with real sparring. That his cardio will be too much for Smith.
“My prediction is Eubank by SD.”
Ben Day Southern Area champion
“I didn’t like the way Eubank got hurt, I’ve seen fighters react like that in the past and they're shot.
“If that’s the case, I think Liam could win again, but if it’s not, I think Eubank is the better boxer, but regardless it’s a good fight, stylistically.”
Uros DjikanovicBoxing Manager & Advisor
“I think this fight will be very interesting. First fight was also great to watch for boxing fans. For the first fight, I picked Chris Eubank Jr and I was wrong. But this time I have to pick Liam Smith. He has a better fighting instinct than Chris Eubank Jr and he was a lot better in the first fight. If Eubank wants to win this fight he has to be more relaxed. I don’t think this fight will end like the first one but I still think Liam Smith is going to win.”
John Raspanti Head writer-editor www.maxboxing.com
“A tough call here. Eubank is against it. He's in MUST-win territory. If he was ever hungry, now would be the time.
“Consummate pro Liam Smith knows he can hurt Eubank. He won't change a thing. Eubank needs to build off round three from their first encounter.
“I can see Eubank outboxing Smith. I can also see Smith stopping Eubank. Hummm… 12 rounds is a long time. The edge goes to Smith.”
Dave DarlingBBN Writer
“It seemed pretty obvious to me that Eubank was able to control the action at a distance (which is what one would expect). The problem was that I think he was trying a little too hard to look like Roy Jones Junior. Now, don't get me wrong, he's always had a somewhat similar style to RJJ (hands down / gunslinger style), but on that particular night there were times when it almost looked like he was trying to do an impression of his coach. And while it seemed to be working from an offensive standpoint the defensive side of things left much to be desired.
“Besides a couple of favourable moments he was exaggerating his evasive movements, getting off balance, looking away from his opponent, looking at the floor… basically moving like an inexperienced amateur (I did some boxing in my youth and I could probably slip punches better than that).
“So I really feel that the outcome of this rematch will come down to one man, Chris-Eubank-Junior. He's the bigger, longer man and probably the more athletically gifted of the two, but can he use those attributes to his advantage by effectively setting the pace, controling the distance (by fighting from long-range) and either tying his man up on the inside and "effectively slipping punches" whenever necessary.
“In addition he should keep turning his opponent and force Smith to follow him around the ring, using counter-jabs in conjunction with check-hooks then spinning off and out of danger and making Smith miss. Not only will this tire his opponent (over time), but it will also frustrate him and make him lunge in more and more recklessly as the fight wears on and he falls further and further behind on the scorecards.
“Eubank has to be the matador in this case and treat Smith like the bull. Infact I would even tell Eubank to make the first few rounds kinda boring by just "sticking and moving", "pecking and poking", while piling up points and frustrating his opponent. If he can effectively follow this script for the entire fight (and he better be in great shape in order to do so) then I believe he can win a relatively easy decision and maybe even get a late stoppage. If he fails, then Smith will probably knock him out again.
“While I agree about how hard this fight is to accurately predict I've decided to go with a Eubank victory via unanimous decision (similar to AJ in his rematch with Andy Ruiz) – I also feel that, despite the victory, tomorrow nights fight may be the last memorable performance of Eubank's storied career.”
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