Liam Smith had to laugh at the suggestion made by the new training team in place for his familiar foe.
Veteran cornerman Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre repeatedly used the term ‘intelligent’ to describe his latest client, second-generation middleweight Chris Eubank Jr., during Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference. The two linked up earlier this summer, in time for Eubank to prepare for his rematch versus Liverpool’s Smith which headlines a Sky Sports Box Office event this Saturday from AO Arena in Manchester, England.
“This is one of the most intelligent, spongiest fighters that I know,” McIntyre told the assembled media when asked while on the dais, of his thoughts on Eubank. “He does everything you ask him.”
Whatever level of respect is carried by Smith of his countryman even through their heated rivalry, he refused to co-sign on that assessment.
“You’re trying to convince the British public whose seen Chris for how many years, over a four, five week period. You
just said something that everyone’s mad at,” noted Smith. “You commented, you class Chris as an intelligent fighter. That’s one thing that Chris is not.”
Eubank (32-3, 23KOs) was a considerable betting favorite headed into their January 21 meeting, which also took place at AO Arena. Smith (33-3-1, 20KOs) rallied after a competitive three rounds of boxing, and dropped the Brighton native hard in round four. Eubank beat the count but was still on unsteady legs when Smith sent him to the canvas for a second time just moments later. It was enough to force the stoppage.
Smith now enters their rematch this weekend as the slight but steadily increasing favorite. The former WBO junior middleweight titlist Is guided by the same team that was previously in place, including head trainer Joe McNally. Eubank was trained by Hall of Fame former four-division titlist Roy Jones Jr. for the past few years and through their first meeting. He has since linked up with McIntyre, best known for his career-long work with three-division and undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (40-0, 31KOs).
Given that company, it was quite an assessment by the trainer to offer such high praise for the newest fighter in his stable. So much, that it didn’t fly with the only man to drop and stop Eubank through 35 pro fights.
“The results speak for themselves,” noted Smith. “You can’t convince people that you’re intelligent. There are other things on whichyou’ve been judged. It may even be your engine. You haven’t been classed as intelligent in your whole career.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox