The big fights keep coming this weekend with Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith due to rematch in Manchester and as Ricky Hatton thinks the first result was a shock he is predicting a more even battle this time around.
The first fight back in January ended in a way very few saw coming when Eubank was put down and out in the fourth round by Smith. It was the first time Eubank has ever looked in serious trouble, let alone put down, and in the aftermath much has been made of an alleged Smith elbow by the Eubank camp.
Former world champion Hatton has admitted he was impressed with what he saw and that nobody expected what happened.
“Smith nailed him pretty quickly, and nobody expected the fight to end that quickly.
I was impressed with the way that Liam Smith fought Eubank Jr. He put his punches together nicely and showed great accuracy. Every punch he threw was big.”
The match-up was looking to be an even one early on with plenty of back-and-forth action, and Hatton reckons it will be the same again this time around.
“It was shaping up into a good fight, the first few rounds anyway, but he finished him off in the fourth round. I think we’ll be in for an even fight in the rematch.”
That said, when pushed, Hatton did predict a result but thinks the fight will go all the way, unlike Carl Froch who sees a much more decisive end.
“I’d make Liam Smith the favourite for the rematch, but I wouldn’t be too eager to write Eubank off because he has got the talent and the ability. There’s no reason why he can’t beat him. He certainly won’t want to get knocked out again.”
The rematch this Saturday will be shown on Sky Sports PPV in the UK.