George Groves has weighed in on former opponent Chris Eubank Jr’s fight with Liam Smith next month, and believes Eubank goes into the fight as a favourite.
However, Groves told ID Boxing that Smith is more than capable of causing ‘Next Gen’ problems – particularly if he is tight at the weight.
“I make Eubank the favourite, he’s got natural size to his advantage, he’s the A side. And people are starting to like him now, I think he likes that.”
“We’ll see if he can get under Liam Smith’s skin, Liam’s been about but he is temperamental – he does bite.”
“It could be a real banana skin for Eubank, Smith is a neat and tidy boxer and does a lot of things well. It depends what version of Eubank shows up.”
“Eubank needs to come and throw volume and try and hurt Smith to the body, put him under pressure as the bigger man.”
“It also depends how tight he is at the weight, but I think Eubank wins.”
Groves bested Eubank in the World Boxing Super Series semi final all the way back in 2018, so there are perhaps few better placed to provide analysis on his upcoming bout.
The fight with Smith materialise for Eubank after his generational fight with Conor Benn in October fell through on fight week due to Benn returning a positive VADA test.
Eubank was due to cut down to a career low weight of 157lbs for the Benn fight, however will be returning back to his home weight class of middleweight (160lbs) next month.
Eubank vs Smith will be Sky Sports’ first pay per view offering of 2023 and will take place at the M+S Bank Arena in Smith’s hometown of Liverpool.