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Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Tense scenes unfold at Chris Eubank Jr v Liam Williams final face-off at Cardiff's City Hall

There were tense scenes as Liam Williams and Chris Eubank Jr faced off for the last time ahead of their Saturday night grudge match.

Welshman Williams, 29, had the home crowd behind him at Cardiff's City Hall for the final face-off on Friday evening as fans chanted his name amid boos for his opponent.

The pair fight each other in what is set to be a bitter bout at a sold-out Cardiff's Motorpoint arena on Saturday in front of 8,000 fans, where both will be bidding to settle their personal feud.

Williams was called to the stage first where he weighed in - a few hours after the official weigh-in - before 32-year-old Eubank Jr joined him a few minutes later to chants of "Liam, Liam" as he danced his way onto the stage inside the Welsh capital's iconic landmark. One supporter swore at him, prompting on-screen apologies on Sky Sports Boxing's live stream of the event.

Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Liam Williams (right) with promoter Ben Shalom (second right) during the weigh in (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Boos followed when he stepped onto the weighing scales, before a tense one-on-one moment with Williams, from Clydach Vale.

Williams told Sky: "Unbelievable, some turnout. They've obviously come straight from work to support me, their man, look at them.

"I'm grateful for all the people that are going to come [on Saturday], but I don't take any confidence from that because I know my ability. I'm winning, regardless."

Williams said he could not repeat his remarks to his opponent during the head to head, but added: "I'm going to smash this guy to pieces, he's getting done bad."

Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Liam Williams during the weigh in (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Eubank Jr responded: "The talk is done. We've got 24 hours. I know what's going to happen. The real boxing fans know what's going to happen.

"I love Wales and the Welsh fans whether you love me or hate me. It's going to be hell of a fight.

"I'm a professional. There is no red mist. I'm doing what I need to do to win.

"I'm not a dirty fighter, he's already saying he's going to try and fight dirty. I'm going out there to make a big statement to cause serious issues in the middleweight division. I'll come for those belts in the summer and the winter."

Tensions between the pair have been running high ahead of their middleweight showdown, with the pair having confronted each other at Williams' open workout in a Cardiff shopping centre earlier this week. You can read more about that here.

Both fighters will feel the need to win as they are running out of time and opportunities at the highest level of the sport, so defeat for either one will be a significant blow.

Williams returns to the ring after a defeat to Demetrius Andrade, when the American won a wide decision and retained his WBO world middleweight title last April. It was his third loss, and a fourth in 28 fights would likely end his world title aspirations at the age of 29.

Eubank Jr is the marginal favourite and has won 31 of his 33 outings. A win could secure him a shot at a world title but a loss would be crushing.

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