Roy Jones Jr has shed some light on the reasons he will not be training Chris Eubank Jr for his rematch with Liam Smith on September 2.
News broke last week that the former four weight world champion and Eubank had parted ways, with no announcement as of yet regarding who instead will be in the Brit’s corner at the Manchester Arena.
Speaking to Boxing News, Jones explained that scheduling clashes, coupled with an unwillingness from Eubank to relocate, were part of the reason for the split.
“Right now, my schedule is hectic because I’ve got other guys with fights coming up. It’s not right for me to pull out from under them at the last minute. I’m not making the money that I would make with Chris Eubank, but it’s about principle.
Sometimes you’ve got to sacrifice. I’m still training fighters in Florida right now, I can’t come to Vegas right now to train. If you want it that bad, show up to Florida.
I’m not against that, I didn’t say he can’t. I just can’t come to Vegas right now.”
On one of the most memorable nights of boxing in the UK this year, Smith destroyed Eubank Jr in the fourth round, handing him the first stoppage loss of his 35 fight professional career.
Though at one stage it looked like Jr would be revisiting a date with family rival Conor Benn instead of rematching Smith, those plans never materialised and he will now look to try and exorcise his demons against the Liverpudlian this autumn.
Smith has raised the stakes for both ben, claiming that retirement beckons with a loss.