Interview: The Liverpudlian Contemplates His Victory Against Eubank Jr as Both Boxers Gear Up for a Rematch in September.
Liam Smith: Rematch with Chris Eubank Jr Means Another Intense Fight Week
When Liam Smith faces Chris Eubank Jr at the AO Arena in Manchester in September, it won't just be another fight night; it will also entail going through another fight week with his rival.
The last time these two British boxers met in the same venue, Smith dropped and stopped Eubank Jr, resulting in many labeling it as an upset. However, the Liverpudlian fighter, now 34, disagrees with that assessment.
“No one in my team thought it was an upset," Smith tells The Independent. "No one in my former team, who watched me spar Chris, was going to think it was an upset. If I had won that fight on points, people wouldn't have been surprised. People are just saying 'wow' because 'Liam Smith stopped Chris Eubank with a headshot.' That's all it is. It got made out like it’s impossible to hurt Chris, like he can't be hurt. That's why it was a big surprise for people."
During their previous encounter, Eubank Jr found himself backed into a corner, struggling to handle Smith's volume and variation. He hit the canvas just 45 seconds into Round 4, looking shaken. After managing to get up and continue, he was knocked down again within 20 seconds, prompting the referee, Victor Loughlin, to stop the fight and declare Smith the winner.
As the fight was waved off, Smith was already walking away, his back turned to both Eubank Jr and the referee. The uproarious cheers from the crowd hinted at the result before he even had a chance to turn around and confirm it for himself. Then, a surge of jubilation washed over him.
"I savored every moment of it," Smith recalls. "From my ring walk, the moments in the changing room before and after the fight. If you ask anyone close to me, they know I enjoy every aspect until the moment I need to switch on for the actual fight. Once I reach the bottom of the ramp, I become all business. Looking back, I wish I could relive that entire week; it was truly a great week."
"If you asked about the three brothers, people would always say, 'Liam enjoys it the most, he enjoys a fight night the most,'" he says, referring to Stephen and Callum, the latter of whom is an ex-world champion like Liam. "I remember telling them, 'There's no better feeling than making that ring walk,' and they were like, 'You're crazy! There's no better feeling than walking back to the changing room, knowing you've won!'"
While the fight was a successful venture into the middleweight division for the former super-welterweight champion, Smith admits that the lead-up to the bout, which included comments that sometimes crossed a line, was not as enjoyable. However, his reasons for feeling that way might not be what one would expect.
"A lot of people used to think Chris was getting under my skin," Smith says. "But I don't lose sleep over Chris, he doesn't affect my day. Our personalities clash... Someone with Chris's persona is just someone I wouldn't get along with in any aspect of life. I just don't like those kinds of divas, who think everything has to revolve around them. During the build-up to the last fight, we were waiting on him a lot for promotion stuff, head-to-heads, etc. It was on Sky Sports Box Office, and the people trying to produce the advert asked us, 'Can you meet in the middle of the ring and touch gloves with two hands?' He replied, 'No, I don't touch gloves with two hands.'
"He was being a nuisance, petty, spoiled, a diva. I just thought, 'It's nothing to me, you're not getting on my nerves, but these people are trying to do promotion. You know what you signed up for, just do it.' He was just a nightmare – but for other people, really; I didn't care about it."
The build-up to their rematch has commenced, and Smith is hoping for a smoother journey as it might even be his final fight. However, that decision hinges on the outcome, with Smith stating that a loss in the upcoming match could lead to his retirement.
"I shouldn't really lose to Chris. I believe I'm a better fighter than him, so the thought of defeat doesn't really cross my mind," Smith emphasizes. Nonetheless, thoughts about life after boxing are on his mind. "It's tough. I have two beautiful little girls, and I'm still fighting for them, trying to secure their future and provide them with an easier start in life. They have changed my perspective on boxing and life in general."
He goes on to contemplate what retirement might entail. "I'll take it as it comes," he muses. "I have a supportive family, and once I'm done with boxing, I can devote all my energy and time to my daughters, creating memories that I might have missed out on. There are certain things I can't do now, like certain holidays, but once I retire, I'll have enough time to give them unforgettable moments. There's a little bucket list for them: things they will enjoy, places where they'll smile."
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