Chris Eubank Jr spoke to media today at the press conference for his recently announced fight with Liam Smith – and may have taken a subtle dig at Conor Benn whilst doing so.
Eubank – who will face Smith on January 21 at the AO Arena in Manchester – seemed to reference Benn’s failed drug test when making a comment on how, no matter what he seems to do, the 33-year-old will always be a villain in the eyes of some.
The press conference was broadcast on Sky Sports.
“The bad guy is back. He never cheats, he never lies, he never cuts any corners but he’s still the bad guy. Isn’t that incredible?”
Eubank was set for a career high payday before his fight with Benn was pulled at the last hour due to the young welterweight returning a positive VADA test, so many will not be surprised he hasn’t completely managed to put those events to the back of his mind.
He will need to have his focus fully on former world champion Smith, however, when the pair meet next year. The Liverpudlian enjoyed a fruitful 2022 and has his eyes set on a meeting with Eubank for a long time.
Whilst behind closed doors Eubank is surely well aware of the test posed by ‘Beefy,’ he was in no mood to articulate such in front of the boxing press today
“I know what Liam is. There’s nothing he’s going to be able to do that is going to confuse me or I’m not going to see coming.”
“It’s a fight that I’m going to be able to win with a fair amount of ease.”
The fight will take place at Eubank’s natural weight of 160lbs, with Smith coming up one weight class from light middleweight for the contest.