Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Williams clash at middleweight on Saturday night in Cardiff in what amounts to a must-win showdown for both men.
So who prevails? Boxing Social’s intrepid band of writers and fortune tellers attempt to predict the outcome…
I haven’t been impressed by Eubank Jr since he teamed up with Roy Jones Jr. The all-action, relentless style has gone and they’re trying make him something he is not.
Williams has made another training change moving to Adam Booth and this is their first fight together. Because of all of this I’m expecting something of a messy fight. I think it’ll be rough, ugly at times and maybe not the WW3 that some think. It’ll be tight, probably controversial (I wouldn’t be shocked if a cut stops it), but I think Booth can get more out of Williams in their short time together than Jones Jr will ever do with Eubank.
Counter punching, aggression and the home crowd will get Williams over the line by split decision. – Shaun Brown
We know what Adam Booth will attempt to do with Williams. Booth will want a patient Williams to pick his moments to counter from a crouched position, allowing him to a land an explosive right hand. Booth’s style depends on a fighter possessing power, which Williams does to an extent. What Roy Jones Jr expects from Eubank Jr is a bit harder to fathom. In their two fights together, Eubank has done a poor impression of the man in his corner.
So, who wins the battle between a David Haye tribute act and a Jones Jr impersonator? Eubank Jr was the marquee signing for Sky in the post-Hearn era, so I find it hard to believe that he won’t get the decision if he’s on his feet at the end. For that reason, I’ll go with a controversial Eubank win. – John Angus MacDonald
This weekend’s bout is interesting, as it sees two guys who’ve went back and forth on social media actually square off in the ring.
When looking at Williams’ resume, you’d have to say he falls short on his biggest nights. Other than his performance against an ageing James DeGale, could the same be said for Eubank Jr?
I think this one is a battle of the early aggressor, and I don’t think either man gets stopped. So banking those rounds, pushing the pace, working on the front foot will be key. Yes, Eubank Jr is the bigger man, but he tends to shell up when fighting a really live opponent. Williams will be game and put it on the line, but as we’ve seen against Liam Smith twice, and Demetrius Andrade, he tends to follow the same game plan – which could be a simple read.
I’ll pick Chris Eubank Jr to win via unanimous decision. And neither to win a legitimate world title in the future. – Craig Scott