The hype for Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith’s domestic clash continues to build with the release of The Gloves Are Off. Here are all the highlights and the full episode.
Liam Smith On Conor Benn Fight And Eubank’s Weight Picture
“Conor was a low risk and a high reward for you. It was a good money fight for you against a smaller man. It didn’t hurt you cause you never actually made the weight. You did kid the public a little bit in that sense.
What was your picture? 159? Your fight was at 157. You were meant to make 157. You did well kidding the public with your top off nice and ripped, but you were not 157.”
Chris Eubank Jr On Beating Smith At 50%
“If I had a bad leg and a bad arm I would still take you out. So that’s why I said I need to be 50% – or better – to beat him. He’s not [a tougher test than Conor Benn.] How could he be? He’s ABC 123. There’s no surprises.
What you see is what you get with this guy. He’s an old dog in the game. Maybe I am too, but I’ve watched his fights. I know what he is at the absolute best he can be.
He’s not tougher than me, he’s not quicker than me, he’s not stronger than me – so how do you win?”
Liam Smith On Eubank’s Ability
“By the way, you cannot box. So I hope you try and box me. You try and box me like Roy’s got you boxing. Please do. You can fight to be fair to you.
“I can stay in the pocket with you. You’re plain and simple when you fight. Yeah, you’ve got quick hands [but] you think you can punch. You can’t punch, even at 160. You’re fit and you can put your shots together – you can’t punch.”
Chris Eubank Jr’s Prediction
“I don’t pick rounds, but, yeah, the way you fight, it can’t go twelve really. Because you don’t move. You stay in the pocket. And if you stay in the pocket with me I’m going to roast you.
While it lasts it’s going to be a hell of a fight.
He will quit. He will get knocked out. He’ll wait till nine, get back up, then I’ll knock him out.”
Liam Smith On Middleweight Debut
“100% I can be effective at middleweight. I’ve been 154 my whole career – it’s getting tough the older I’ve got. I’m fully big enough for 160, and Chris will know that.”
Chris Eubank Jr On Liam Smith Being ‘Dirty’
“He is a dirty fighter. I’ve seen quite a few things. I like when I see guys doing the head butting and the elbowing because that means that they’re not true. When the going gets tough, they look for ways out.
I’ve never been a dirty fighter. I’ve never done anything which is against the rules. So I like watching fighters and seeing them have to resort to the dirty tactics because their skill level isn’t enough.”
Liam Smith On Lifestyles
“You’re a clown. You’d rather sit and play poker with Neymar than have a meal with your family. You’re a show pony.
He has people carrying his phone, people carrying his jackets … He had a young man the other day carrying his phone while he was in the corner, probably going through his Instagram.”
Liam Smith On Eubank Sparring
“You’re very weak to the body, and you know you’re weak to the body. You got creased to the body and blamed your arm. Your little arm injury. He didn’t fully go, but nearly.”
Chris Eubank On Smith’s Weaknesses
“Liam’s already mentioning the word ‘retirement’. Which is good. I like hearing fighters talk like that. That to me screams weakness and defeat.”
“You’ve been hurt in fights. You’ve been wobbled. You’ve been on the ground. Tell me who hurt me. I got cut once. Never been hurt, never been stopped, never been put on the floor, never been counted out – like you have. You’re the type of guy if you get hurt you’re going to look to your bothers and look to your corner – ‘what do I do?'”
Liam Smith On Defeat
“I struggle losing to anybody, but I’ll also struggle to this man. Look at him. I’ll struggle losing to that. The persona, his demeanour, his attitude, his arrogance. I’ll struggle to lose to somebody like Chris … It’s unthinkable.”
You can watch the full back and forth below ahead of the fight on Sky Sports Box Office – an event with a packed undercard featuring Joseph Parker and Richard Riakporhe.