Matchroom Promoter, Eddie Hearn, has made his prediction ahead of Saturday night’s British grudge match between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jnr.
Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith upset the odds with a fourth-round knockout victory over Eubank back in January, becoming the first man to stop the 33-year-old middleweight, despite usually fighting in the super-welterweight division and not having a power-puncher reputation.
Nevertheless, Smith was able to put together a deadly combination to end Eubank’s six-fight win streak and put a serious dent in his fellow Brits’ ambitions of becoming a world champion.
Since that fateful night, Eubank has continued to claim that Smith threw an elbow during his emphatic combination, which subsequently won him the fight. As a result, he believes that he is more than capable of righting his wrong and avenging the defeat and getting his world title charge back on track.
In an interview with Boxing Social, Eddie Hearn made his prediction, favouring the man whom he previously promoted, Smith.
“I expect Liam to win the fight but I expect him to win it on points this time. I think Eubank will do better but I don’t see him winning the fight.”
Retirement has been suggested for the loser of the rematch between Smith and Eubank, but what awaits the winner is unbeknownst to both men. A possible shot at Conor Benn could well be on the line as the 26-year-old prepares to make his comeback to the sport, although Kell Brook continues to be linked to ‘The Destroyer’.
The British duo top a card featuring a whole heap of British talent, as Mark Heffron defends his British Super-Middleweight title against Jack Cullen and rising stars Adam Azim, Frazer Clarke and Lauren Price, also feature.
In addition, former super-featherweight world champion, Mikaela Mayer, returns to the ring in a super-lightweight bout against the once European champion, Silvia Bortot, and the ever-popular Florian Marku battles Dylan Moran, as the Albanian seeks to climb the IBF world rankings.