‘Chris Eubank Jr got a second chance against me – now I want to get rid of him’

You would not blame Liam Smith for thinking his story with Chris Eubank Jr was finished.

Conor Benn’s positive drug test struck the lid off Pandora’s box and allowed 700 page dossiers, adverse analytical findings, Piers Morgan interviews and a diet filled to the rafters with eggs to come spilling out. A dark cloud of shame, farce and frustration descended on the science of boxing, which seemingly grows less sweet with every passing day.

However, it did light the touch paper on a bitter, personal feud between Smith and Eubank Jr. The former super-welterweight world champion took the place vacated by Benn in November 2022. Within three rounds on January 22, Smith left the Brighton based fighter with the kind of spaghetti legs that would prompt the little man ringside to prepare the bell.

Half a round later, Eubank was back on the mat and Smith was stood on the ring posts celebrating. Seven months and one cancelled rematch later, Smith wants to deal with Eubank once and for all when they meet again at the AO Arena on September 2.

Read More: Liam Smith hits out at Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn after 'money is poor' remark

Smith wasted no time in dealing with the 33-year-old and he deals with interviewers in similar fashion. On the front foot, direct, precise and in control.

“Look, there is something that needs to be clarified here,” Smith abruptly said to Daily Star Sport, when asked about their rematch, which was cancelled in May. “I got injured and pulled out of one fight.

“The new date was scheduled and announced on a hopeful basis to Boxxer and Ben Shalom. I pulled out of the June 17 bout. On July 1, I was never, ever going to be ready, realistically. But, you know, they went ahead and announced that.

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“I pulled out of one fight and I was devastated to pull out of that fight. This Chris Eubank Jr fight has been dangling for a little bit now and I just want to get rid of Chris and move on.”

There is a sense of frustration in Smith’s voice and it is understandable. During the preparations of both dates, he has had to listen to the likes of Eddie Hearn talk about Benn vs Eubank Jr, despite the fact Benn has not been cleared to fight and the latter enacted his rematch clause against the Liverpudlian.

“I was just thinking ‘are they fighting or aren’t they fighting?,’ Smith added. “There was a lot of talk of them fighting. If Conor Benn was cleared, they probably would have been fighting.

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“I just don’t think Conor’s situation is cleared. Chris has accepted my rematch clause so, here we are.” In a previous interview with Daily Star Sport, Smith admitted he would have been looking for his next challenge were it not for the rematch clause Eubank enacted.

At the age of 34-years-old, Smith is still hungry. Hungry for another world championship, hungry for another big money fight, hungry for a new challenge. His victory could not have been more emphatic against Eubank, yet he believes the referee afforded him another chance to get back into their encounter at the AO Arena.

“I just think anybody else in the business of boxing who gets up and stumbles like Chris Eubank Jr did, would have been stopped on their feet, there and then,” the former champion said.

“I think a lot of people would agree with me on that sense. Where do I stop him? I’d be happy to stop him in the 12th or even do him on points next time round.

“I don’t really mind, I just feel like I’ll beat him more emphatically and more dominantly than I beat him last time.” Smith hopes this page will finally be turned when the lights at the AO Arena are turned off.

Then again, the boxing world has a habit of elongating feuds and rivalries – and this certainly is a captivating one.

SMITH vs EUBANK II: REPEAT OR REVENGE? on Saturday, September 2 at the AO Arena in Manchester will be shown live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office. Tickets on sale now via Boxxer.com.

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