Eubank Jr vs Smith LIVE: Fight updates, result and reaction as Smith scores stunning KO
Smith floored Eubank Jr with a huge uppercut in the 4th round and the fight was waved off soon after in Manchester
Liam Smith produced a devastating fourth-round stoppage to beat Chris Eubank Jr in their middleweight grudge clash in Manchester.
With the build-up overshadowed by unpleasant exchanges during Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference, there was little love lost between the fighters as they walked out to a packed AO Arena.
Smith, a former WBO light-middleweight champion with 32 wins from 36 fights, made the better start and although Eubank Jr recovered, he was put down twice in the fourth before the referee stepped in to end the contest.
Smith made homophobic remarks and questioned Eubank Jr’s sexuality during Thursday’s press conference, with accusations of Smith cheating on his wife being thrown in the opposite direction, before Junior then wore a rainbow armband to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community for Friday’s weigh-in. The British Boxing Board of Control confirmed that they will “consider the conduct of both boxers directly,” while British LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall has urged the governing body to show they take anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric seriously.
Relive Eubank Jr vs Smith with our live blog below:
Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki
If it comes down to who has the superior nickname, then Riakporhe is a shoo-in. ‘The Midnight Train’ is great stuff.
We’re underway.
Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki
A lot of the fights on the undercard have gone long (what else is new...) so we’re pretty much straight on to the main support fight.
Richard Riakporhe and Krzysztof Glowacki have completed their ring walks and in the squared circle now.
Riakporhe is 15-0 but this is a step up in class for the Brit. Glowacki has some pedigree in the cruiserweight division - he’s a former world champion, having held the WBO belt, has a 32-3 record and the first of those defeats came to Oleksandr Usyk back in 2016.
More recently, the Pole has lost to Mairis Briedis and Lawrence Okolie, so he’s probably not the fighter he was but he knows his way around the ring...
Victory for Riakporhe could catapult him into the cruiserweight world title conversation though. Plenty on the line for the Londoner.
Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith: A fight of family pride and a risk for both
The venerable Steve Bunce has given his thoughts on this evening’s main event.
”Smith and Eubank Jr have been in the same fighting circles for a long time, sparring on occasion, eyeing each other up, separated by a few pounds and inevitably pulled together when the sums made sense. It is a very good fight at any weight; Eubank Jr has none of the weight-draining obligations hanging high above his head that he had for last year’s cancelled fight with Conor Benn. It was called off after an irregular drug test surfaced and after a bad 24 hours for the sport, where it looked like the pound note and not common sense and decency would rule the day. Benn was brutally cast out.
“The fallout from that failure is still being felt, but Eubank Jr has insisted that it has not caused him to lose a moment of sleep. “It happened, the fight was off - I moved on and now I have to beat Liam,” said Eubank Jr. Meanwhile, Benn is still insisting that he is innocent of all drug charges and is hoping to totally clear his name in the coming weeks.
“Smith emerged as an opponent from that mess and that is how the year will start with a tremendous domestic fight. It is, make no mistake, a risk for both.”
Eubank Jr vs Smith is a fight of family pride and a risk for both
A tremendous fight kicks off the year in the ring on Saturday night with plenty to gain and lose for both
Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki
Just one more fight before Eubank Jr and Smith get it on. Our main support bout is Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki at cruiserweight. Should be a good ‘un.
Ekow Essuman def Chris Kongo by majority decision (114-114, 116-113, 115-114)
Essuman came on really strong in that fight and that was ultimately the difference. No complaints about those cards, could have gone either way and the judges’ scores reflect how tight it was.
Essuman moves to 19-0 and is STILL British and Commonwealth welterweight champion but boy did he have to work hard for it.
Ekow Essuman vs Chris Kongo
First judge’s card is 114-114
Second judge is 116-113
Third judge 115-114
The majority decision goes to EKOW ESSUMAN! Tight, tight fight but the champ retains his belts!
Ekow Essuman vs Chris Kongo
That was a fun fight and the cards should be pretty tight. Got a feeling that either man will feel hard done-by if they lose...
Good British title action, that
Ekow Essuman vs Chris Kongo - Round 12
Big last 180 seconds of this fight. Both fighters will think the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles are still up for grabs if they win the 12th.
Essuman catches Kongo with a backhand over the top but it’s generally Essuman trying to come forward a bit more than the challenger.
HUGE RIGHT from Essuman. Kongo wobbled, his legs buckle but he holds on. Essuman charges forward, although a good counter-right landed by Kongo. Another good shot by Kongo.
And that’s it. The bell rings and the fighters tap gloves and embrace. Essuman’s round because of that big shot maybe?
No celebrations from either man - this genuinely could go either way. We await the cards
Ekow Essuman vs Chris Kongo - Round 11
Good uppercut from Kongo off the ropes but Essuman lands a right hand that shudders through the challenger.
Kongo is spending more time on the ropes, which is never a good look in the judges’ eyes, even if your opponent isn’t landing a lot.
The champ tapping away to the body and he’s starting to dictate the pace again. Man, this could go either way.
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