By: Sean Crose
The final time the 2 males met, issues most definitely didn’t go nicely for middleweight Chris Eubank. Although he labored his jab, stored his distance, and went to the physique nicely towards Liam Smith final winter at Manchester’s AO Arena, it was Smith who ended up catching, then brutalizing, his man within the fourth spherical, main the referee to cease the struggle. This time, nonetheless, issues would show to be completely different. Sure, Eubank and Smith could be squaring off as soon as once more on the AO Arena on Saturday, however this wasn’t going to be a 4 spherical struggle. Nor was it going to finish with a Smith victory. Not even shut.
Things began off within the first with the 33-3 Smith being jabbed and smothered by the 32-3 Eubank. Eubank continued to jab nicely within the second whereas he additionally started to place his punches collectively. By the third, Eubank was capable of bang away at his man whereas Smith merely wasn’t capable of make something occur. A fantastic left hook by Eubank put Smith down within the fourth. Smith bought again to his toes, then let his mouthpiece hit the ground, which offered him with beneficial restoration time whereas a brand new mouth piece was inserted.
Things didn’t get higher for Smith within the fifth, as he was as soon as once more harm by Eubank. To Smith’s credit score, nonetheless, he was capable of survive the onslaught, in addition to the spherical. Oddly, Smith got here ahead within the sixth with out using his jab. Eubank’s jab, alternatively, was quick, laborious, and on level. By the seventh, Smith seemed to be completely listless. Things slowed down a bit within the eighth, although Eubank remained nicely in management. Smith basically bought overwhelmed up within the ninth.
Eubank piled in on within the tenth, sending Smith to the mat as soon as once more. Smith bought up and tried to carry on, however one other Eubank flurry led the referee to step in and cease the struggle. It was a giant night time for the thirty-three ear outdated Eubank, for he was capable of even issues out with Smith, and in grand type, in addition. Now the Sussex native is taking a look at names like Gennady Golovkin, Conor Benn, and Kell Brook. Although they’re now at one struggle a chunk, there might not be many requires a trilogy bout between Eubank and Smith due the one sided nature of Saturday’s struggle.
