The rematch between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. has finally been confirmed for September 2. The two Brits had previously battled one another in January of this year and ended with Smith winning by stoppage in the fourth round at the Manchester Arena. A rematch was subsequently arranged but the bout was postponed twice. It is now expected to finally commence in September without any further delays or postponements.
The rematch had originally been set for June 17th but had to be postponed due to an injury that Liam Smith (33-3-1, 20 KO’s) suffered during training. With these injuries addressed, Smith has now fully signed on to continue his feud with Chris Eubank Jr. (32-3, 23 KO’s) on September 2.
The nagging question that remains during this whole match-up is why it is taking place in the first place. With Liam Smith having recorded a decisive win in his last match against Chris Eubank Jr., there would be virtually no reason for the two to meet up against one another but the promoters seem to believe otherwise.
“Their January fight was one of the most exciting encounters in BOXXER history,” Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO and Liam Smith’s promoter told Sky Sports. “We’re expecting tickets to fly out for September 2 at the AO Arena as fans rush to be ringside for what is guaranteed to be another unbelievable firefight.”
While Shalom seems to be more so looking forward to the benefits of gaining profit, Kalle Sauerland, Chris Eubank Jr.’s promoter, seemed to be more concerned with the actual match itself rather than the potential ticket- and PPV sales.
“Good things come to those who wait, and so the postponements will only make victory that bit sweeter for Chris, when he finally meets Liam Smith on September 2,” Sauerland said to Sky Sports.
“Chris has had to remain patient and disciplined but what has been clear, in our conversations over the last few weeks and months, is that he is laser-focused on setting the record straight. Chris is going to deliver an electric performance.“
Though the two promoters seem to harbor different reasons for the rematch occurring, the genuine beef between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. that started before the match is sure to sell many seats and garner many viewers. In the midst of selling their first fight, the two British fighters seemed to turn what had originally been attempts to boost attention to their bout into a genuine rivalry.
This ‘bad blood’ between the two exploded at their first press conference when Liam Smith questioned Chris Eubank Jr.’s personal life and suggested he was a homosexual. The back and froth banter over these two over homosexuality seemed to drive more interest towards the fight but turned into a dislike for each other that was palpable by the time they stepped into the ring.
Chris Eubank Jr. suffered an incredible blow to his reputation after being stopped early in just the fourth round, and the two have cemented their rivalry ever since his loss. The rematch on September 2nd is expected to settle this ‘beef’ once and for all, and Chris Eubank Jr. has spiced up the event by vowing avenge his defeat.
“No more excuses, no more postponements,” Eubank said in the build-up of this news to Sky Sports. “Smith can’t run forever. September 2 is the day of my revenge.“
For Liam Smith, revenge will not be on his mind but he will want to prove he is one of the best British fighters in the world. After his reign as the WBO super welterweight champion ended by the hands of Canelo Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KO’s), Smith has been seeking his place in the sport and eventually decided to try his hand at middleweight where he would eventually meet with Chris Eubank Jr. in the ring.
A win for either of the two fighters will see them climb up the middleweight rankings to become one of the most relevant contenders in the division, but most importantly a victory on British soil against another Britsh fighter would give the winner bragging rights to last for the entirety of their career.
Like their last fight, this match will take place at the Manchester Arena in Manchester with Sky Sports set to promote the event alongside their partner BOXXER. The two will be fighting as middleweights on September 2 with no titles on the line.
