Following the postponement – or potential cancellation – of the Eubank Jr -Conor Benn fight, Liverpudlian Liam Smith has offered to step in and take on Eubank before the end of the year.
Smith hasn’t been shy about calling for the matchup, despite both men seeking world titles at super-welterweight and middleweight respectively. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 34-year-old said:
“I’ve made it vocal I was open to that fight [with Chris Eubank Jr] before he decided to fight Conor [Benn], now that fight is off, there is probably only one fight in Britain for him and it’s myself. I’m here ready and waiting.”
“I signed under Boxxer because it’s an easy fight to make [vs Eubank] and I stick by what I said, that’s the easiest fight to make now going forward, we are both under Boxxer and Sky and we are both willing to fight each other so I’m pretty sure that fight can be made.”
“I’ll be ready this year, December, I’m just going to do it as the normal process, I’ve just fought in September, I’d have been looking to fight in December. I’m more than ready for Chris Eubank in December.”
Much like the Benn fight, a meeting in the ring between the two could potentially be at a catchweight, but would be a big domestic scrap regardless. Eubank is likely looking to fight before the end of the year having not been in the ring since early February, and it’s unclear when or even if the Conor Benn fight will be rescheduled.
His promoter, Kalle Sauerland, recently told Boxing Social that, whilst he was keeping an eye on the Benn situation, he was preparing contingency plans in the backroom. Whether or not they include Smith remains to be seen.