In the hope of going out on his shield, Chris Eubank Jr has advised his trainer never to bring a towel to his fights again.
Eubank was stopped for the first time in his career by Liam Smith back in January, and it’s something he’ll attempt to avenge after signing for the the rematch on June 17.
Despite the general consensus being that it was a good stoppage with Eubank seemingly in no fit state to fight on, at the launch press conference he said that he didn’t agree with it.
“In my opinion, [Smith] 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, though, pointed out that Roy Jones Jr – Eubank’s trainer – was ready on the ring apron to throw in the towel should the action be allowed to go on.
Eubank then advised Jones to leave his towel at home for the rematch – a request that was met with laughter from Smith and the congregated media.
“I didn’t know. I can’t control what Roy was doing … Roy didn’t throw the towel in. Whether he was about to do it or not is a different matter. I still haven’t actually had the conversation with Roy about that.
I will be telling Roy, from now on don’t ever bring a towel to any of my fights ever again. Don’t even worry about wiping my brow if there’s sweat.
Because, like I said, as a man who’s getting paid millions to fight each and every time he steps in the ring, I have a responsibility to take my beating if that’s what is gonna happen.”
The second fight is likely make or break for Eubank at the top level. At 33-years-old, it’s hard to see a world title shot on the horizon with a loss, and he has admitted that Smith would undoubtedly be the better man should history repeat itself.