LIAM SMITH defeating Chris Eubank Jnr shouldn’t be called an unpleasant thing but the way the latter fell in round four was truly shocking.
First, Smith is brilliant and he deserves what we hope is the next life-changing payday; ideally at Anfield during a big event where he is the star attraction. For a long time, “Beefy” – one of Britain’s most senior boxers – was forced to travel the world or play B-sides to earn money. Thirty-five years old in July, Smith is now in a prime position to dramatically increase his retirement. And, to be honest, given the fractured and faded importance of the ‘world’ belts, plus the costs involved in challenging them, a non-title rematch with Eubank could be is Liam’s highest-earning match.
After his win, Smith talks about pulling Eubank down to “158 or 157” to come back. Whether an immediate rematch is the wisest course of action for Eubank is unknown but dropping any further tables, even just two or three, seems like a terrible idea for Eubank. with the proud Brightonian. While it would be unfair to the best of Smith’s career to label Eubank as “overweight” on Saturday night, it is nevertheless worth pointing out that recent changes in volume his body may not be helping to increase his lifespan.
Those bullshit claims that his arduous quest to relegate to 157 for the Conor Benn fight being canceled in October won’t have long-term bad consequences ‘because he doesn’t have a fight in’ end of the war’ is flawed. The adult body is not designed to endure such torture, especially when one is in their thirties and barely has any fat. So it’s possible that Eubank, who didn’t take a break from exercise between starting camping for Benn and getting into the ring with Smith, was somewhat weakened. Just as it takes you and I longer to recover from overactivity in your 30s than it does in your 20s, boxers’ bodies aren’t immune to the punishments of weight loss training camps as they age. Go.
Chris Byrd could barely get up when he lost weight in 2008; it wasn’t Shaun George’s fist that ended his career it was basically the incredible weight loss program he endured before. Likewise, Oscar De La Hoya, wretched 145 lbs., was a shell of himself before stepping into the ring to face Manny Pacquiao in 2008. David Haye’s efforts to shed excess fat before his rematch with Tony Bellew stole the rest of his resistance to punches as well as the blows his opponents hurled at him.
Eubank’s drop to 157 on the surface isn’t all that impressive, but, along with his drop to 160 in 2019 after three years at super average, it’s fair to think about whether his body feels the stretch straight or not, especially when one considers that, unlike Byrd, De La Hoya and Haye, Eubank has no excess weight to lose.
Also don’t forget that Eubank’s significant downfall was due to his own poor judgment inside the ring. Always over-reliant on what he had long considered an indestructible chin, he left too long with the kind of recklessness that would one day be exposed. What Smith did, in the truly breathless moments of the fourth round, was not just one shot to Eubank’s skull but several quick shots in quick succession. And Eubank, content to retreat into corners or let go knowing that his chin could withstand the force of a grenade explosion, simply could not escape nor return fire. In particular, Smith’s two punches, invisible and perfectly shaped, are crafted as finely as any you can see and once again highlight Eubank’s shortcomings in front of strength. the heat of a class battle. Only this time, at the age of 33, he couldn’t rely on what he had always believed to be his inherent resilience to survive.
Smith burst the Eubank bubble in a way that previous Junior conquerors, Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, failed to do. Although Eubank was more highly rated for the duration of both matches, his ability to stand up to punches and hit back became his badge of honor. It was also the shirt he wore well for a long time. But those iron beards being plucked from his chin can cause him to look in the mirror with a reflection he no longer recognizes.
It is doubtful that a sense of pride will force him back into the ring, the only place where he can always strut and feel sublime. How he copes in it now, knowing deep down that his opponent can not only injure him but also turn his legs into spaghetti, can be a huge realization. serious.
