- What: Chris Eubank Jr. vs Liam Smith - middleweight fight
- When: Saturday, September 2nd
- Where: Manchester, England
It's an all-British affair on Saturday, September 2nd as Brighton's Chris Eubank Jr will be looking to bounce back from a defeat to Liam Smith in January when they meet for a rematch at AO Arena in Manchester, England. This is expected to be a very fiery bout with no shortage of hate between the two. Smith knocked out Eubank Jr in the fourth round earlier this year at the exact same venue, but Eubank Jr remains confident the result will be a whole lot different when Saturday rolls around. There are no titles on the line here. But, it's still a 12-round middleweight clash. Keep reading for the Chris Eubank Jr. vs Liam Smith picks.
Before we get into the odds and predictions for this fight, check out the best boxing betting sites and where you can find our sportsbook reviews.
Eubank Jr vs Smith Odds
| Fighter |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Eubank Jr | +120 | +125 | +120 |
| Liam Smith | -150 | -165 | -150 |
As you can see, the odds aren't too lopsided. Smith, the winner in January, is slightly favored at -150 odds for an implied win probability of 60%. Eubank Jr comes back at +120 and has a 45.5% chance of getting revenge here. The total in rounds is set at 10.5, with the over coming in at -140. The under odds are +110.
Fight Preview
Eubank Jr is a 33-year-old Brit who has been a champ in two different weight classes in the past: Super middleweight and middleweight. He owns a career record of 32-3 with 23 knockouts in his impressive career. Eubank initially turned professional in 2011.
There is no question this is probably one of the most important fights of Eubank Jr's career. He admitted recently that he thought the last fight with Smith was his for the taking after a strong first few rounds but said he got complacent, which resulted in the KO. You can expect the Englishman to come in and be ready to give his absolute best this weekend.
Standing at 5 foot 11, Eubank has a slim size advantage in terms of height over Smith but their reach is quite similar. When it comes to fighting style, Eubank Jr is one who likes to use his boxing IQ and superior footwork to outsmart his opponents but as evidenced by the knockout numbers, he can also put anyone on the canvas, too. His odds to knock out Smith are set at +450. To win by decision sits at +275. Lots of value in both if Eubank Jr can show up and make a statement.
Liam Smith hails from Liverpool and has a couple of years on Eubank Jr. He's 35. "Beefy" owns an overall record of 33-3-1 in 37 fights, including 20 knockouts. Smith is very, very experienced, having fought some of the biggest names in the sport including Canelo Alvarez. The Merseyside native had the WBO light-middleweight title from 2015-2016 and comes into this clash with four wins in a row. He lost that belt to Canelo.
The rematch clause was activated by Eubank Jr after he claimed Smith used an illegal elbow to win the bout. Whether that happened or not, there is surely pressure on both fighters to turn up and perform in a fight that will settle the score once and for all.
Smith looked to be in trouble in January before coming out in the fourth and landing several shots capped off with a left uppercut that put Eubank Jr on the ground for good. While Smith might be the more established boxer, he cannot take Eubank for granted, either. He'll be coming in very hungry.
One last world title run could be in the cards if Smith wins here but more importantly, he can silence the outspoken Eubank Jr with another big result. All that chatter of him being a "dirty" fighter will be put to bed with a victory.
Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith Picks
So much is at stake for both guys here. For Eubank Jr, he essentially needs to win in order to keep his career alive as a potential middleweight title challenger. As for Smith, well, he's seeking to prove that January was no fluke. One thing to note is that basically, every defeat for Eubank Jr and Smith went the distance, aside from the KO at the beginning of 2023. For that reason, I'm locking in the over 10.5 rounds as my best bet.
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