The press conference for Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith turned ugly yesterday with both fighters getting personal.
Smith insinuated that Eubank might be homosexual, seeming to use that as a way to get under his skin, before Eubank then accused his opponent of infidelity.
As boxing build-ups go, it was a sorry scene that the broadcaster has apologised for. Eubank spoke to Boxing Social in the aftermath, saying that Smith has embarrassed himself and made it personal.
“He wanted to take it to a personal place, a dark place, so we took it there. If you want to cross the line I’ll cross the line with you. He’s rattled. He’s upset.
He embarrassed himself up there and I embarrassed him too. Now there’s just more reason to go out there and stop this guy. I’m going to enjoy it all the more.”
“Now he may have taken the number one spot [of fighters he dislikes] … This is now real bad blood.”
Assuming that the weigh in goes ahead without incident – which isn’t a given considering the presser events – the pair will face off on Saturday night in Manchester in what’s become a bonafide grudge match.
Eubank enters the ring the favourite and will believe that Smith’s outburst today plays in his favour, however the Liverpool man has been confident from the word go that he has the beating of an overly cocky Eubank.
The fight represents a crossroads for both mean, with a world title campaign on the other side of a victory, but a very tough road back to the top on a loss.
The main event ring walks are expected around 10:30PM following an undercard featuring Joseph Parker, Richard Riakporhe and Frazer Clarke.