In their rematch press conference, Chris Eubank Jr applauded Liam Smith for becoming the first person to knock him down, but a former opponent of Eubank has released footage to shut down those claims.
‘Beefy’ brutally stopped Eubank in the fourth round of their grudge match at the beginning of the year, seemingly putting an end to the 33-year-old’s ambitions of challenging Gennady Golovkin and his chances of becoming a world champion.
Since then, Eubank has activated his rematch clause in an attempt to avenge his defeat and get his career back on track. During the Sky Sports launch press conference, he congratulated Smith on becoming the first person to drop him to the canvas.
“It was a once in a lifetime thing [getting knocked down by Liam Smith], which it was because that has never happened in my lifetime, I’ve never touched the canvas before. You [Smith] did it, and I gave you the credit for that.”
However, after witnessing Eubank’s comments, Nathan Decastro posted footage of him knocking Eubank down with his first punch of their amateur bout in 2011.
“I think somebody is telling porkys, I put you down in Lincoln at Yarbrough Leisure Centre back in 2011”
I think somebody is telling porkys, I put you down in Lincoln at Yarbrough Leisure Center back in 2011 👀 @SkySportsBoxing@ChrisEubankJr@IFLTV@boxxerhttps://t.co/PGXUnqcvJbpic.twitter.com/YnAnRMIOBP
— Nathan Decastro (@Nathan_Decastro) April 25, 2023
Eubank may now clarify that he was discussing his professional career.
Decastro went on to build an undefeated sixteen-fight professional record, before making the switch to bare-knuckle boxing. In BKB he has gone 2-1, winning the British welterweight title in December 2021.
‘The Nightmare’ was handed his first defeat back in October, where he sustained a gruesome eye injury in a loss against Lorawnt-t Nelson at BYB 12, but is hopeful of rematching the American this year.
Smith and Eubank will run it back on June 17 in Manchester, in what is seen by many as make or break for ‘Next Gen’.