Liam Smith vs. Chris Eubank Jr. 2 Press Conference Recap
On September 2 Liam Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) takes on Chris Eubank Jr. (32-3, 23 KOs) for a second time at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Initially set for June 17, the bout had to be postponed due to an injury to Smith. The fight had to be pushed back a second time as Smith was unable to recover in time. Both men will finally face each other again on Saturday.
A final press conference was held on Thursday where the two fighters delivered statements. Things got a little tense between both men as they look to finally settle their rivalry. Big Fight Weekend presents some of what was said at the press conference.
Smith-Eubank 2 press conference recap
Eubank
Eubank delivered comments first and was asked whether this was the most pressure he has ever been under in his professional career:
“I would agree with that statement. I’ve said that throughout the whole camp and it’s the truth. It is a new pressure that I have never had to deal with before. But I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying the focus it’s giving me, I’m enjoying the hardship that I’m having to go through mentally, physically, to be able to execute the gameplan on the night. It is a new pressure, it is a new risk I have now in front of me. I’m excited to go out there and see how I react when I have a man in front of me who has a win over me. Can I keep my emotions in check? Can I stick to what we’ve been practicing over the last eight weeks? We’re going to find out in a couple days.”
Following their previous bout, Eubank said that the outcome was a “miracle” and that he is still the better fighter. He maintained this at the press conference as well:
“What happened in the last fight was not supposed to happen. Even to Liam, he may not admit it, but he was not expecting the fight to finish how it finished. Nobody was…I have to prove that I am the better fighter. Me saying it, me believing it is not enough. If he pulls it off again, if he does what he did in the first fight in this fight, I can’t argue with anybody. I can’t argue with him, I can’t argue with the boxing public. He will be the better fighter and that’ll be it. But as of right now, I believe, I know I am the better fighter and I’m going to go out there and prove it on Saturday night.”
Smith
Smith responded to Eubank’s claims that the first fight was a miracle in his first statement of the night:
“Which one was the miracle? That’s the question. Which one was the miracle, Chris? What shot was the miracle?” said Smith as he tried to goad Eubank.
In the past, Smith has claimed that no matter what Eubank is taught, it does not stick. He maintained that at the press conference as well:
“100%. Brian and the rest of the team over there will be prepared for the backlash again because he’ll blame you once he loses this Saturday night…Chris Eubank got it wrong. You make too many mistakes. You made the mistakes. Roy [Jones Jr.] didn’t make the mistakes. Bomac’s [Brian Mcintyre] not going to make the mistakes this time. You make the mistakes, just take it on the chin yourself. You lost the fight because you got nailed, and the miracle was just how easy it was.”
Those looking to watch the full press conference can do so here:
Currently writing out of Toronto, Canada, Saadeq first became a boxing fan while living in Doha, Qatar. Looking to become more involved in the sport, he began writing about boxing and has had work published in outlets such as Seconds Out and Boxing Social. He looks forward to continue covering boxing on Big Fight Weekend.
