Former WBO junior middleweight world champion Liam Smith has given his take on the recent statements from Eddie Hearn, who promotes welterweight Conor Benn.
Smith will be facing Chris Eubank Jr. on June 17 in a pay-per-view rematch. They fought earlier this year, with Smith shocking the odds by knocking Eubank out in four rounds.
Eubank was initially scheduled to face Benn last October. The fight fell apart after Benn tested positive for a banned substance.
In the weeks that followed his first knockout loss, Eubank had the option to exercise an immediate rematch with Smith – but he was also approached with a big money offer to face Benn in the Middle East.
Eubank ultimately decided to fight Smith – after the British Boxing Board of Control warned of potential consequences to any licensed boxer who took part in an overseas bout with Benn.
In a recent interview, Hearn explained that a rematch with Smith was far less lucrative – from a financial standpoint – than a fight with Benn.
“Look, Eubank wants to fight Conor Benn. The money for Liam Smith is poor. But the money for Conor Benn is huge,” Hearn told IFL TV.
However, Smith feels strongly that Eubank took the more dangerous route.
“I’m not sure what Eddie means by that,” Smith said exclusively to Daily Star Sport. “I think he means that Conor Benn is low risk and high reward for Chris Eubank Jr.
“I don’t know what the public make of it. Conor Benn might not agree with it. But in my opinion, Conor Benn is an easier fight for more money. I said that before I fought Chris and I’ll stand by that. I think my result with Chris proved that point too. I don’t know if Eddie’s on about my money, I don’t know.”