Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr had all the hallmarks of a crossroads fight. While they are only a year apart in age, each man appeared to be in different stages of their career. Smith was a former world champion who had fought with distinction, but had been found out at the very top level by the likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Jaime Munguia. Eubank meanwhile was in the form of his life, finally looking capable of fulfilling the destiny his famous name promised.
Saturday’s middleweight scrap at the Manchester Arena was a crossroads fight in the end, but it sent the men in opposite directions to those expected. Smith scored a stunning TKO victory over Eubank in the fourth round of a thrilling collision. ‘Beefy’ was expected to struggle with the move up to middleweight, a category in which ‘NextGen’ is a natural. But Smith wore it well as he battered Eubank into submission.
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So what comes next for these two warriors? There is reportedly a rematch clause in the contract. One could forgive Eubank for wanting an immediate chance to make amends. But the world-ranked contender spoke of needing to “let the dust settle” when interviewed by Sky Sports in the aftermath of the fight.
That might not be the worst move. Going straight back in with ‘Beefy’ is high risk-high reward. Win and you’re back in business. Lose and your career may never recover. The heavyweight division has provided two good examples of this in modern times. Dillian Whyte recovered from a 2020 knockout loss to Alexander Povetkin by stopping him in a rematch the following year. But Liverpool big man David Price’s career never recovered from back-to-back shock losses to Tony Thompson in 2013. The once-touted future champion never progressed beyond domestic level.
Eubank has rebounded from defeat before, but never one this damaging. His 2014 split decision defeat to Billy Joe Saunders was a rare case of two unbeaten prospects being matched with each other. A spirited WBA world title defeat to George Groves was redemptive in its way. While Eubank dropped a unanimous decision, he showed grit and determination that punctured the idea he was a coddled beneficiary of boxing nepotism.
Going the distance with a future world champion and a then-reigning title-holder is one thing. Getting knocked out by an opponent you were favoured to beat is quite another. This loss will be the hardest one Eubank has had to shake. It snaps a run of six wins since the Groves reverse. This sequence included victories over two-time IBF champion James DeGale and domestic rival Liam Williams. At the age of 33, it is debatable whether Eubank has a rebuild left in him.
For Smith, no such career reset is required. If the rematch doesn’t happen, the Liverpool fighter has a number of presentable options available to him. ‘Beefy’ is ranked in the top five with every governing body at super welterweight. Jermell Charlo reigns as the undisputed champion at 154lbs. ‘Iron Man’ was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu this month, but an injury he suffered in training has seen the fight postponed. Smith can afford to sit tight though, knowing his ranking leaves him well-placed for a crack at the winner.
But Saturday’s victory came up at middleweight, a new division for Smith. Eubank is ranked by three of the four organisations at 160lbs, meaning ‘Beefy’ will be right in the mix should he stay at the weight. While former conqueror Munguia is to be avoided, there are fights both lucrative and winnable available. Hamzah Sheeraz and Felix Cash would be money-spinning domestic occasions. 47-year-old former champion Sergio Martinez is somehow ranked second in the world by the WBA and would be a big name scalp.
Two fights stand head and shoulders above the rest though. One domestic and one at world level. Kell Brook is reportedly interested in coming out of retirement. ‘Special K’ was believed to be targeting Saturday’s winner before the fight and Smith himself says he is open to the bout. Smith would be the pick there to defeat a shopworn Brook.
The gold standard would be a bout that Eubank himself had chased for a long time. Smith would relish a bout with IBF and WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. The biggest name at the weight but coming off a loss, now might be the right time for Smith to fight ‘GGG’. It would still be a massive ask to overcome one of the most dominant fighters of modern times. But mountains are there to be climbed and Smith has never shirked a challenge. This is a man who defended the WBO super welterweight title in front of over 50,000 fans against ‘Canelo’ after all.
This will all be made moot if the rematch clause is enacted. If that happens then we are left with a stick or twist scenario, Smith wins again and we stay where we are. Eubank is victorious and we go back to the way things were before Saturday with the possible added wrinkle of a trilogy fight. But, having analysed the options available to both, the rematch is among the less interesting variations.
Photos: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
