LIAM SMITH crowned himself the best middleweight in Britain with a brutal victory over Chris Eubank Jr.
The AO Arena in Manchester played host to a showdown seven years in the making – and one which spiced up this week due to a bevvy of personal insults.
Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith collided in an eagerly-anticipate domestic dust-up in Manchester
Beefy Smith started the fight on the front foot and won the first two rounds
Eubank Jr came back strong in the third and rocked Smith a series of uppercuts
But it was Liverpool’s Smith who put the sideshow to come out of the Battle of Britain victorious – which he ended in brutal fashion in the fourth stanza.
Eubank Jr looked to take the centre of the ring early and pimped out a piston-like jab.
Smith was happy to take his time and get a read on the fleet-footed Eubank Jr early doors.
A good right hand reminded Eubank Jr of the size of the job on his hands midway through the round and drew a big reaction from the raucous crowd.
The pair went to work in the clinch in the final minute before ref Victor Loughlin separated them.
A good check hook landed early for Eubank Jr in the second and prompted him to up the ante.
Smith, however, kept a high guard and used good head movement to avoid the flashy blows.
Eubank’s low left hand invited Smith to land an overhand right and he didn’t waste the opportunity a minute into the stanza.
Smith’s head movement and bobbing and weaving backed up Eubank Jr in the final minute, although the Brighton bruiser landed some good countershots on the back foot.
Eubank continued to look to time Smith coming in but had little success early in the third.
A good right hand briefly put Smith on the back foot and reminded him of the counterpunching ability of his opponent.
A rasping uppercut hurt Smith in the final minute – so much so that he stood stationary and ate a series of uppercuts before the end of the round.
Smith came out like a bat out of hell in the fourth and sent Eubank Jr crashing to the canvas after eating a hellacious uppercut and and left hook..
Eubank Jr, somehow, made it back to his feet.
But he ended up taking more heavy shots and was felled again.
Sensibly, ref Victor Loughlin waved off the contest and stopped Next Gen from taking more unnecessary punishment.
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