Chris Eubank Jr triggers Liam Smith rematch clause despite fourth round knockout
Chris Eubank Jr has triggered the rematch clause for a return clash with Liam Smith.
The Brighton boxer was knocked out in the fourth round by the Liverpool man last month. Boxxer are looking to stage the bout on May 27 with a return to Manchester Arena the most likely venue. The pair met in a highly-anticipated grudge match in Manchester in January, with Smith handing Eubank Jr the third loss of his professional boxing career.
Anfield has also been put forward as a potential venue for the second bout, with Smith being both a Liverpool fan and hailing from the city.
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Eubank Jr’s promotional team had initially hinted at lodging an appeal against the loss after alleging Smith had landed an illegal elbow during the flurry of punches which led to the first of two knockdowns.
Smith labelled the claims “embarrassing” before Eubank Jr’s decision to instead trigger his rematch clause on Tuesday, confirming via Sky Sports: “This morning I activated the rematch clause via my lawyers and sent to my promoters.”
Wasserman’s head of boxing, Kalle Sauerland, had previously revealed after the first fight that they had “a few weeks” to make their decision on triggering the clause.
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(Image: Getty Images)
Confirming it had been activated, he told Sky Sports: “Chris was up a round on my card. He just came off a very good third round. The first round he probably just edged.
“The second round was Liam, the third round was Chris’, a very clear round and then he caught one. It happens. That’s boxing. Can he do it again? I’d like to see that. A lot of people would like to see that.”
Smith did not hold back after the first bout after the rumours an appeal could be made, exclaiming: “They are clutching at straws. As much as it might be a shock for people to see Chris sitting on his backside like that, just take it on the chin.
(Image: PA)
“People are forgetting I fought him at 160lbs. He came in at 159lbs. If he’s struggling that bad, come in at 160lbs. A pound is a lot when you’re tight at the weight. A pound is an awful lot. You’re not stupid.
“Why give away an extra pound? I fought him at his weight. I didn’t drag him to no catchweight. I fought Chris at Chris’ natural best weight, 160lbs. Keep hitting me with the comments, but let me tell you this – I’ll do the exact same in the rematch.”
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