Eubank Jnr admits Smith defeat has changed his 'mindset and spirit'

‘I have to get this win, I HAVE to avenge this loss’: Chris Eubank Jnr admits defeat by Liam Smith has altered his ‘mindset and spirit’ as the crestfallen star describes their highly-anticipated rematch as ‘do or die’ after being stopped for the first time

• Eubank was knocked down twice before being stopped by Smith back in January
• He has the chance to avenge that defeat in a Manchester rematch on June 17
• Ahead of the fight, Eubank says he will have ‘no excuses’ if he suffers same fate 

Chris Eubank Jnr said his ‘mindset and spirit has changed’ following his loss to Liam Smith earlier this year.

Eubank was looking to move into world title contention with a win and entered the ring as the favourite, but he was quickly brought back down to earth.

Smith shook the boxing world by beating Eubank by TKO in the fourth round of their meeting in Manchester on January 21, 2023.

The two will now go toe-to-toe once again with their highly anticipated rematch being confirmed for June 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester.

When asked whether his mindset had changed ahead of the rematch, Eubank said: ‘Of course, you know, going into a fight knowing that you’ve lost to the man you’re fighting before, yes, it changes things you know.

Chris Eubank Jnr said his ‘mindset and spirit has changed’ following his loss to Liam Smith

Eubank will get the chance to avenge that defeat against Smith (left) in their June 17 rematch

Smith became the first man to stop Eubank inside the distance in a shock win earlier this year

‘It changes your mindset, it changes your spirit, you know, and how you think about the fight and how you feel about the fight and things you want to do to prepare.

‘Not to say that I didn’t prepare to the fullest or as well as I could have for the fight, beforehand, but when you have a loss then it’s like it becomes a do or die.

‘You know it’s like I have to get this win, I have to avenge this loss. You can say well you got lucky, he does it twice that’s it, there’s no excuses then.’

When asked whether he would take the fight more seriously this time around, Eubank said: ‘I’m a light-hearted guy, I’m a fun, cool, laidback guy – that’s just how I am.

‘You know I said I would need, I didn’t say that I’d prepared 50 per cent, I said that’s what I would need to be in.

‘That’s not to say that’s all I trained to be. Obviously, you know maybe I did take him lightly, but again I didn’t cut corners in the camp.

‘You know, did I underestimate him, maybe. But I still prepared like a professional, I came in a pound under the weight that I was supposed to be. In my opinion I dominated the first three rounds, he barely laid a hand on me. And then what happened, happened.

‘Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes and now I have to go out there and rectify that mistake.’

Eubank has described their rematch as ‘do or die’ after being stopped for the very first time

The rivalry between these two boxers if fierce and things got particularly heated before their first fight.

Eubank and Smith were both investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBofC) over their ‘personal’ and ‘homophobic’ comments at their pre-fight press conference last time around.

Smith suggested that Eubank was ‘gay’ before the latter in turn made accusations that his rival was unfaithful to his girlfriend.

When asked whether the rivalry would be as sharp but perhaps more respectful this time, Eubank said: ‘I mean yes the rivalry is definitely burning, even more so now because yes he has a win over me.

‘So now it’s like I’m up for it, you know, how the next weeks and months are going to go between him I don’t know, but I’m not, I’m still the same guy, just because I lost it doesn’t mean I’m going to change all of a sudden, become someone different.

‘I’m not, I’ve never been that person, I am who I am, win or lose, so yes. We’ll see what happens.’

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