Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn look set to run it back later this year. The last man to beat Eubank, Liam Smith, has weighed in with his prediction.
Eubank and Benn continued the rivalry started by their fathers in the nineties with a thrilling 12-round contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Eubank would come out a unanimous points winner after outlanding a gritty and competitive Benn.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Smith praised the action.
“The two of them showed a lot of balls. They were f***ed but still slugged it out and it ended up a good fight.”
Asked if he felt Eubank was hurt by Benn’s power, he said yes, but also pointed out that Benn suffered too.
“I think he looked hurt a few times in the fight. I think his balance looked questionable. But I think Conor was hurt a couple of times, he might tell you he wasn’t, but I think he was hurt. They were both out on their feet at stages through tiredness. It was a gruelling fight for the two of them. A better fight to watch than I thought it was gonna be.”
On the potential of a rematch, for which some have said there is not great interest, the Liverpudlian said he would like to see it.
“Yeah I would like to see the rematch. I think if Chris has a fight with Conor it’ll end up a good fight [again.] But I think Conor’s got even more of a chance next time around, cause like I said I think Chris is one or two fights from being done. His balance has gone a little bit.”
Despite Benn’s chances increasing, Smith was then asked who he backs to win and still sided with his former foe.
“Probably Chris, size-wise he’s too big for him, wasn’t he? When he wanted to be I think he was too big for him.”
