Liam Smith desires a shot at revenge towards Chris Eubank Jr and is eyeing a trilogy struggle between the pair ought to Saturday evening go to plan.
Smith suffered a Tenth-round stoppage defeat to a vastly-improved Eubank Jr of their September 2023 rematch, having knocked out his British rival in emphatic trend eight months earlier.
The 36-year-old had been because of make his return to the ring towards Josh Kelly final September earlier than withdrawing from the struggle because of sickness.
He’s now scheduled to face Aaron McKenna on the undercard of Eubank Jr’s showdown towards Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.
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A glance again at how one of many sport’s most intense rivalries culminated in an unforgettable victory for Smith over Chris Eubank Jr
“I think there’s probably a number of reasons I’m on this card,” Smith informed Sky Sports activities.
“I do not suppose Chris needed me on this card, however I am on it, perhaps if one of many main-event fighters obtained injured I used to be in all probability the very best title to step up and step in.
“We all know with Riyadh Season, it simply desires actually good fights and dancing companions. If I win and the primary occasion is a bit one-sided and does not have a rematch then I am an possibility for the winner.
“I think there are a couple of reasons I’m on the card.”
Smith was visibly removed from his greatest throughout his second assembly with Eubank Jr, however would later make no excuses over his efficiency on the evening or preparations that had been marred by an harm setback.
He stays pushed by the loss and is in search of the chance to place issues proper as he continues to downplay query marks over what motivation he has left within the latter years of his profession.
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Relive the home ‘grudge’ between Eubank Jr and Smith, with Smith profitable the primary struggle by way of knockout earlier than Eubank Jr exacted revenge within the rematch
“If I wasn’t motivated I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be in the shape I’ve got in, especially after a horrendous injury I had,” Smith added.
“The same question was getting asked of Callum (brother Callum Smith) about desire. It’s irrelevant.
“Going again to the loss to Chris is all of the motivation I want actually. Final time I used to be in a hoop in a aggressive struggle I used to be horrendous.
“That loss eats away at me every night because I didn’t get the chance to do it again. For some reason it got stopped at 1-1, Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde get their trilogy, I don’t get why I didn’t.
“It is all the way down to me show that I am again, there have been causes behind that efficiency.”
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Eubank Jr dominated Smith of their rematch, as he secured a Tenth-round stoppage in Manchester
Smith’s opponent McKenna arrives an ideal 19-0 as knowledgeable and the youthful man on the age of 25 as he fights for the primary time since a Tenth-round stoppage win over Jeovanny Estela final July.
For all McKenna’s potential, Smith plans to make his ring expertise depend.
“I look at him, I’ve had a few of these over the years,” mentioned Smith. “Going back to the Anthony Fowler fight (in October 2021). I get asked the same question ‘you’ve been to the top, what desire have you still got?’.
“I keep in mind on that card there have been six 154s on that card, I mentioned you possibly can match me with any considered one of them, it is a aggressive struggle for 4, 5, six rounds after which cuteness, potential, expertise comes into it.
“This will be no different. He’ll start very fast, he’ll be game, competitive, but when the fight settles down and the ability and experience shows I’ll be too good for Aaron.”
Chris Eubank vs Conor Benn can be dwell on Saturday April 26 on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace. E book now!
