{"id":9363,"date":"2023-01-20T15:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T15:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/chris-eubank-jr-and-liam-smith-scrap-to-damn-boxings-reputation-boxing\/"},"modified":"2023-01-20T15:33:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T15:33:00","slug":"chris-eubank-jr-and-liam-smith-scrap-to-damn-boxings-reputation-boxing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/chris-eubank-jr-and-liam-smith-scrap-to-damn-boxings-reputation-boxing\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith Scrap to Damn Boxing&#8217;s Reputation | Boxing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\"><span class=\"dcr-uj791q\"><span class=\"dcr-wio59t\">B.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">The first big fight of the year between Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith in Manchester on Saturday night was a controversial and postponed match that cast a deep shadow over the controversial sport last October. Three months ago, Eubank Jr. was set to take on Connor Benn in a highly hyped catchweight promo built on the animosity between fathers over 30 years ago. bottom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">Eubank Jr. is middleweight and has had relative success at super-middleweight (168 lbs), while Ben is at welterweight (147 lbs). The size difference meant that fights should never have been agreed, even at a compromised weight of 157 pounds, but money always wipes out boxing&#8217;s decency and intellectual competition. After a staggering amount of attention for the build-up, it was ultimately disappointing how the promoters tried to move the fight forward despite Ben testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene. And there was nothing but anger, a drug that can increase testosterone levels in men.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"3e3b9d9a-5700-4524-ba79-046c09ad4b51\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-11ra563\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2023\/jan\/18\/chris-eubank-jr-boxing-is-a-ruthless-game-conor-benn-liam-smith&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Chris Eubank Jr: \u2018Was I disillusioned? No. Boxing is a ruthless game\u2019&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;richLink&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3e3b9d9a-5700-4524-ba79-046c09ad4b51&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2,&quot;design&quot;:9}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">The ensuing results have taken a serious toll on boxing, especially since it was revealed that Ben had failed an earlier drug test for clomiphene. Set out to find &#8220;evidence&#8221; that there is, this week he claimed that &#8220;science&#8221; acquitted him and that &#8220;evidence doesn&#8217;t lie&#8221;. It is difficult to find anyone who seriously believes that the test results of<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">In response to this dire situation, Eubank Jr chose to accept a tougher challenge in his fight against Smith. Smith fights primarily at super-welterweight, one division less than Saturday&#8217;s middleweight contest, so he&#8217;s still the bigger guy, but Eubank Jr. has been playing in the paid ranks since 2008. We know a tough and experienced pro. Smith has.He has lost 3 of 36 fights but he is world champion and the formidable Saul who stopped him in the 9th round in 2016. I exchanged punches with \u201cCanelo\u201d Alvarez.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">At 33, Eubank Jr. is a year younger than Smith and has fallen short twice, losing to Billie Joe Saunders and George Groves. However, he is improving under a new trainer in the great former world champion Roy Jones Jr., and Eubank steps into the ring as a slight favourite. It looks like it will, but Eubank Jr thinks it will eventually prove to be too big and too strong for Smith. But it wouldn&#8217;t be too surprising if Smith got a small win.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"4aa80333-8bec-4d86-81ff-0bb445851fd3\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-173mewl\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><picture class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=620&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 660px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=605&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=45&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chris Eubank Jr. wore a rainbow armband to Friday's weigh-in\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/e4b09afaf2ae21b7303122983c4d7d7eb5f96637\/0_0_3500_2333\/master\/3500.jpg?width=445&amp;quality=85&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"296.62428571428575\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"dcr-1d1r6yi\"><span class=\"dcr-17eagbs\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-flw1bz\">Chris Eubank Jr. (left) wore a rainbow armband at Friday&#8217;s weigh-in in response to Liam Smith&#8217;s homophobic comments on Thursday.<\/span> Photo: Nick Potts\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">The evenly balanced nature of the match, in which both fighters have their limits at very high levels, is reinforced by the fact that a loss would be a crushing blow for the loser. I know I have a lot to lose,&#8221; Smith admits.  &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid of losing to an opponent who should never lose. And I feel that I must not lose to Eubank Jr.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">Eubank Jr has issued a more urgent statement. he is in danger. Winning is the most important thing in my life at the moment.  He told me last week that this was a fight for &#8220;purists&#8221; and would be Smith&#8217;s second middleweight bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, but Eubank Jr. I hope.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-173mewl\">\n<aside class=\"dcr-124witz\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1613jw2\">A note on the best sports journalism and weekend action from the last 7 days<\/p>\n<p><gu-island name=\"SecureSignupIframe\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;The Recap&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;form id=\\&quot;secure-signup-the-recap\\&quot;&gt;&lt;label class=\\&quot;email-signup-iframe-njjzu0\\&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=\\&quot;email-signup-iframe-de6my7\\&quot;&gt;Enter your email address&lt;!-- --&gt; &lt;\/div&gt;&lt;\/label&gt;&lt;div class=\\&quot;email-signup-iframe-17gkgdc\\&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=\\&quot;email-signup-iframe-lxzyg5\\&quot;&gt;&lt;label for=\\&quot;src-component-116174\\&quot; 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For more information,<!-- --> privacy policy.  We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google.<!-- --> privacy policy and<!-- --> Terms of service <!-- -->application.<\/span><\/aside>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">A potentially engaging domestic showdown should be seen by as wide an audience as possible to dispel the bitter taste left behind by Ben&#8217;s debacle. But of course, the boxing conspiracy meant it became a pay-for-view offering in an attempt to squeeze more money out of patient fans. Unlike the Ben vs. Eubank Jr. scandal or last month&#8217;s horrific pay-per-view massacre, in which Tyson Fury beat hapless Derek Chisora \u200b\u200bfor the third time, this is a real contest with lots of needles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1rmlzqn\">There was a depressing scene at Thursday&#8217;s press conference when Smith upset Eubank Jr. by resorting to homophobic provocation. He then wore a rainbow armband for Friday&#8217;s weigh-in. Like Eubank, he apologized for his own barbed reactions. They may not think much of such a lofty goal, but Eubank Jr. and Smith believe that due to British boxing&#8217;s tarnished reputation and their own very personal ambitions, are fighting<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/__i\/rss\/rd\/articles\/CBMidmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWd1YXJkaWFuLmNvbS9zcG9ydC8yMDIzL2phbi8yMC9jaHJpcy1ldWJhbmstanItYW5kLWxpYW0tc21pdGgtc2NyYXAtdG8tc2F2ZS1ib3hpbmdzLXRyb3VibGVkLXJlcHV0YXRpb27SAXZodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVndWFyZGlhbi5jb20vc3BvcnQvMjAyMy9qYW4vMjAvY2hyaXMtZXViYW5rLWpyLWFuZC1saWFtLXNtaXRoLXNjcmFwLXRvLXNhdmUtYm94aW5ncy10cm91YmxlZC1yZXB1dGF0aW9u?oc=5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] B.The first big fight of the year between Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Smith in Manchester on Saturday night was a controversial and postponed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-mma-combat-sports","two-columns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9363\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}