Chris Eubank Jr will move on from the failed Conor Benn fight with another domestic clash, this time against Liverpool’s Liam Smith.
The boxer from Brighton had everything recently – media attention, a training camp, a dramatic build up. All he was missing was a fight at the end of it all. News of Benn’s failed drug test forced the British Boxing Board of Control to prohibit the bout, and Eubank Jr was left without an opponent.
Now back at BOXXER and Sky Sports – as well as his usual fighting weight – Eubank Jr has targeted a tough test in Smith, and the fight is seemingly all but officially announced. Smith, who will enter the ring with on a three-fight win streak following a controversial decision loss in Russia, has been calling for this match-up for some time now.
Ben Shalom, who will promote the fight for Sky Sports, said that, despite their best efforts, December 17 is no longer the target date. He spoke to the Lightweight Boxing Show.
“Look we tried to make it for this year. For whatever reason there just wasn’t enough time. Look, Chris wants the biggest fights. Liam Smith is probably the biggest domestic fight out there for him. I know Liam wants that fight as well. I expect it to happen. Hopefully we can announce that next week.”
When the fight takes place is now all that’s left to be agreed between the two camps, with a date as close as possible to the turn of the year expected given Eubank’s eagerness to stay active and challenge for a world title in the near future.
An official announcement, as per Shalom, is likely in the coming weeks.