Chris Eubank Jr was on stage to promote the most pertinent rivalry in his career in Liam Smith, but he still managed a dig at old foe, Billy Joe Saunders.
The 33-year-old from Brighton’s best boxing family made his rematch with Liverpool’s Smith official this week, with the pair set to run it back on June 17 at Manchesters AO Arena.
It was that very same venue just three months ago that Smith handed Eubank the first stoppage loss of his career, defying those who predicted Eubank’s chin would stand up to any of his attacks.
Smith hit Eubank with a flurry of hooks an uppercuts for the first knockdown, and similarly swarmed him after he made the count on shaky legs. It was waved off then in the fourth.
Speaking at the launch press conference for the rematch, Eubank said that he should’ve had the chance to continue.
“I understood the fight was over, but I just wanted to look at [Smith] and let him know ‘hey listen, I’m still here, I’m still ready to go.’ In my opinion, he didn’t stop me, the referee stopped me.
In a sense we both got robbed there. He got robbed of the opportunity to finish me conclusively – and that could’ve happened. And I got robbed of the opportunity to overcome that bad instance and to maybe come back and win the fight.”
Smith quite clearly believes that it’s delusion on Eubank’s part, and pointed out that the towel from his trainer, Roy Jones Jr, was on its way in anyway. Many fans will agree that he was in no fit state to fight on.
Eubank continued arguing against Victor Loughlin’s stoppage, though – and that’s where he snuck in a dig at Saunders.
“As a prize fighter, as somebody who’s getting paid millions to fight each and every time I step into the ring, I have a responsibility and an obligation to give it everything I’ve got.
I’m not looking for a way out. I’m not like these other fighters like Billy Joe Saunders, when the going gets tough they’re looking for a way out. I’m looking for a way in. I’m looking for a way to overcome, and I think that was taken away from me.”
Eubank is likely referring to Saunders’ stoppage loss at the hands of Mexico’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez.
Having been hit with an uppercut in the eighth round – later revealed to have caused a fractured orbital bone – he didn’t return from his stool for the ninth.
Saunders and Eubank fought back in 2014, with the former winning via split decision and handing Eubank his first career loss. It’s a rivalry that hasn’t gone away, and certainly doesn’t seem to be doing so anytime soon.