Former WBO junior middleweight champion Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith 31-3-1 (18) has challenged Chris Eubank Jr 32-2 (23) to pick on someone his own size.
The 32-year-old Eubank Jr has recently been linked to a bout with welterweight Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn 21-0 (14). Their fathers had an epic ring rivalry in the early 1990s that saw Eubank emerge with the upper hand 1-0-1.
Middleweight Eubank – who has previously competed at super middleweight – is highly regarded by three of the four major sanctioning bodies. He is the WBA number one, WBO number two, WBC number three at 160-pounds.
But Smith has questioned Eubank Jr’s motivation for fights, suggesting there are big fights out there for him that wouldn’t involve forcing a welterweight to move up two weight classes.
The 33-year-old Smith says he would be happy to add the extra six pounds to meet Eubank Jr at middleweight.
“If he wants a big fight, there’s one right there for him now,” Smith told Sky Sports. “It’s a fight that people are talking about, it’s a fight that people are excited about if it’s made. It’s a fight that can be easily, easily made. I’ll sign for that fight tomorrow, I’ll sign for that fight next. Anyone who can make 147-pounds shouldn’t be fighting nowhere near middleweight.
“The names, the dads, whatever else but at the end of the day anybody else would get slaughtered for that fight. He’s fighting a welterweight. A welterweight who’s still learning his craft a little bit. Besides the names, he should be getting slaughtered for that, even calling Conor Benn out.
“I’m not begrudging anyone making money but it’s a shame he made the money he made in that World [Boxing Super Series]. He should be getting forced to have big fights and he’s living the high lifestyle. He should be banging the door for world titles and he’s not bothered about big challenges because of the money he’s made.”
But talk of Eubank Jr facing Benn next seems entirely premature. Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn says there have been no discussions around making that bout.
“Everyone presumes he’s fighting Eubank,” the Matchroom Boxing boss told iFL TV.
“There are no negotiations, we are not close to a Eubank fight. That fight is always massive. I’m talking to Kalle [Sauerland, Eubank’s promoter] this week but our focus is on other fights.
“I’m not saying we wouldn’t take that fight. But it is not close or on the horizon.”
Benn himself was bemused by the speculation he would fight Eubank Jr next, adding that he was recently linked to facing a retired boxer.
“Not that I’m aware of, no,” said Benn. “I swear I saw people were adamant I was fighting Mikey Garcia. Where did they get that one from?”
