This week it was made official that Chris Eubank Jr will attempt to avenge his first stoppage defeat against Liam Smith.
Following what happened in their original encounter, there has been a massive shift in the odds for the fight.
In January, Eubank was seen as the natural favourite – priced around 2/5 to come out on top due to his advantage of being a recognised middleweight.
Meanwhile, Liam Smith was listed as a 2/1 underdog given that he usually fights at super-welterweight and a general feeling that he would struggle to hurt the granite-chinned Eubank.
To the amazement of many, Smith became the first man to drop Eubank in the professional ranks and brutally finished the fight in the fourth round with a highlight-reel stoppage over the 33-year-old.
With nineteen stoppage wins in thirty-six outings as a super-welterweight, a stoppage victory for the scouser was priced at a huge 9/1, with many expecting the contest to go to the judges, but after his dominant performance, bookmakers see the rematch in a different light.
Now, the bookies give Smith the edge as the favourite, with odds opening at 8/11 in his favour, whilst Eubank heads into the ring as an 11/10 outsider.
However, after the fashion in which the former 154lb world champion dismantled his opponent three months ago, a Smith knockout is now considered to be the most likely outcome of the night, with prices found around 13/8 for a repeat performance.
By contrast, a Eubank decision victory was just 11/10 back in January, but fears that he may have found his kryptonite in ‘Beefy’ means he is out to 5/2 to avenge his loss with a victory on the judges’ cards.
The two Brits will collide in Manchester at the AO Arena on June 17th.
