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Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith
Headlines In Manchester On Jan. 21
Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith is officially on! Get ready
for the ultimate New Year’s bash as two of Britain’s best
boxers collide on Saturday, January 21st at the AO Arena in
Manchester.
In a blockbuster start to 2023, the middleweight rivals go
head-to-head in an eagerly anticipated bout live and
exclusively in the UK and Republic of Ireland on Sky Sports
Box Office.
Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) heads into this mouth-watering
pay-per-view clash in the form of his life following wins
over Jesse Vargas, Anthony Fowler and Roberto Garcia.
And after his winning BOXXER debut in September, Smith
immediately set his sights on Eubank Jr as he plots his path
to becoming a world champion for a second time.
Smith, 34, memorably went toe-to-toe with Saul ‘Canelo’
Alvarez in 2016 and comes from a proud, illustrious
bloodline of champions including brothers Paul Smith Jr,
Stephen Smith and Callum Smith.
Eubank Jr (32-2-0, 23 KOs) is a man whose family name needs
no introduction at all. Son of legendary former world
champion Chris Eubank, the 33-year-old has successfully
carved out his own reputation in the sport.
But in Smith, Eubank Jr faces one the toughest tests of his
stellar career. The Brighton-based fighter was a former IBO
world title holder and is entering his prime, intent on
starting the new year in style.
Eager to step back inside the ropes after his proposed
October bout with Conor Benn was postponed, Eubank Jr last
fought in February when he comfortably outclassed Liam
Williams in Cardiff with an impressive unanimous decision
points victory.
Chris Eubank Jr said: “Has he been in there with some good
fighters? Yes. Are they on my level? No. He's a competent
fighter, but class beats competence every day of the week.
It's a good opportunity for me to show I'm twice the fighter
that he is as well as those he has faced.
“Manchester is an iconic sporting city. It has hosted many
legendary fight nights and many memorable fighters have been
born there. It'll be a great performance, and the Eubank
name will hopefully become a regular feature whenever the
boxing history of Manchester is discussed.”
Liam Smith said: “He’s making a big mistake fighting me.
Every time he has stepped up to elite level, he has failed.
I am elite and he will fall again on January 21st in
Manchester.
“If he was at 60% for the fight that never was against Conor
Benn, then he’ll need to be at 160% to be ready to face me,
a former world champion, in front of thousands of my fans in
the North-West.
“For Chris this is a high-risk, low-reward. For me, it’s the
perfect platform to show I will rule the world again in
2023. He needs to be prepared for the toughest night of his
career.”
Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, said:
"Eubank vs Smith is a fight that has been talked about for a
very long time. It's an absolute banger of a boxing bonanza
to kick off a huge year for the undisputed superstar of the
middleweights Chris Eubank Jr, in a year in which we expect
him to take over the division.
“The journey begins in the amazing fight city of Manchester
which has been host to so many historic British
blockbusters, on January 21 live on Sky Box Office we will
witness the next one."
BOXXER CEO & Founder, Ben Shalom said: “What a way to start
the new year. This is the fight that British boxing fans
have been calling for.
“There aren’t many bigger names in the sport than Chris
Eubank Jr, who many believe is coming into his prime now.
This is his biggest fight in recent memory against a truly
world class fighter Liam Smith. Liam is proven at world
level and in the form of his life. Many will feel that he is
the favourite going into this.
“It will be a huge occasion for British boxing and we’re
delighted to bring this mouthwatering event to the fans in
the iconic fight city of Manchester.”
Fight fans can pre-register for tickets today, with the
pre-sale date of Tuesday, November 29th. Tickets will be
available on general sale on Thursday, December 1st.
Sky Sports Box Office will exclusively screen the bout in
the UK and Republic of Ireland. Pricing details, as set by
Sky, will be released in due course along with further
announcements on the full, exciting undercard for what
promises to be a momentous occasion to kickstart 2023.
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