Boxxer promoter, Ben Shalom, has drawn comparisons between Chris Eubank Jr. versus Liam Smith and the rivalry of David Haye and Tony Bellew.
Haye and Bellew were involved in an entertaining domestic feud in which former two-weight world champion, Haye, was twice defeated by the Liverpool man.
Whilst many fans believed Eubank Jr’s unavoidable nemesis in the sport would be Conor Benn due to the history between their fathers, Benn’s suspension has instead gifted Liam Smith the opportunity to fight the controversial middleweight.
In an interview with talkSport, Shalom explained the similarities as he sees them.
“Do you know what it [Eubank-Smith] reminds me of? It reminds me of Bellew-Haye. Where you’ve got Haye, the brash superstar really and then the working-class scouser, that worked his way up to world level and, in the end, it was an easy night for Tony Bellew.
It’s got that feeling of a clash of styles and a clash of personalities.”
Smith, like Bellew, will be coming up in weight as he moves up six pounds from the super-welterweight division.
Although both men have plenty of fights to their name, Smith will feel he has got the edge in experience in big fights being a former WBO world champion.
Meanwhile, Eubank has held the less recognised IBO title. He goes into the fight after a dominating performance over Liam Williams in February of 2020 – an extended period out of the ring likely not helping him come fight night.
Eubank and Smith top a high-quality card, featuring the likes of Richard Riakporhe, Joseph Parker and a British title fight between Ekow Essuman and Chris Kongo.
The event will take place on January 21st and will be available to purchase on Sky Sports pay-per-view at a price of £19.95.