Liam Smith cut a confident and relaxed figure on the scales as he weighed in for his huge showdown with Chris Eubank Jr.
After weeks of verbal exchanges, the two finally meet in the ring at the AO Arena in Manchester tomorrow night. Smith, who is a former super-welterweight world champion, weighed in at 11st 5lbs at Manchester Central Convention Complex, a pound inside the 160lb middleweight limit
While Eubank Jr, wearing a Manchester United shirt and a rainbow armband in support of the LGBT community, topped the scales at 11st 5lbs, the same weight as Smith. Following the weigh-in, the two exchanged words as they faced off for the final time, and Smith explained afterwards what he said to Eubank Jr.
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“I said, look you made it personal, if you want to make it personal, I will fully make it personal, and don’t think I won’t,” Smith said.
“I just told Chris that he made it personal on a couple of things, bringing my family into it and trying to slam my city, Liverpool. He’s in for a rude awakening tomorrow, let me tell you.
"It was a little bit easier energy level wise (at 160lbs). Don't be fooled that size is going to be an issue. All I see is a clown standing in front of me."
After coming off the scales, Eubank Jr said: "We're the full 50 per cent now, and that's what it's going to take to beat that man.
"I saw it in his eyes on the stage there, he doesn't want to be here. He's going to be in for a shock. I'm going to go out there and enjoy the punishment that I dish out. Now it's not just business, it's personal.
"I've got to win in devastating fashion so that I can go on and fight the big names in the division, such as GGG (Golovkin)"
One of the big talking points ahead of the fight is centred around a sparring session that took place between the two at Joe Gallagher’s gym a number of years ago. Smith believes he got the better of the 33-year-old and hurt him with a body shot, but Eubank Jr has also shut down the claims.
One man who was present when the sparring session took place was former WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla. And speaking exclusively to the ECHO ahead of the sold out fight, the 36-year-old detailed what happened when the two previously met in the ring.
He said: “I think both lads would say sparring is sparring, but I will be honest it was very entertaining. Neither fighter dominated, but it was one of them, and this sounds a bit cheesy, but you would have paid good money to watch it.
“It was very entertaining, great clash of styles, the famous body shot and stuff like that, Jr says he doesn't remember it but he definitely felt a body shot.
“Listen, Jr didn’t go over or anything but he definitely felt it and it is clear he felt it. But I will give him credit because next round he came storming back. Liam had success, for sure. Again it is sparring, but Liam would say he got the better.”
There seems to be more people leaning in Eubank's direction than Smith's in recent days, but Sky Sports pundit and boxing trainer Dave Coldwell believes “Beefy” is the more proven operator between the two.
“It is very hard to pick [a winner], but I think Liam Smith is the proven high quality operator and I think he is the better fighter all round,” he told the ECHO.
“The only thing that makes this a close fight for me is timing. Liam has got a lot more wear and tear on him and I think his last few fights he has got off to a slow start. However, once he has warmed up he has started chewing them up. But that is why for me this is a close fight.”
Before Coldwell added on the fight, saying: “It is two big names and two names that the majority of fans know.
“You have got the crossover with the Eubank name. It is a big fight and it is a real opportunity for both fighters to go out there on a big platform and stake a claim.
“This is a seriously, seriously good fight. You have got two equality operators and I think the styles of the two are going to jell. This is an absolute must-see fight.”
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