Chris Eubank Jr produced arguably the most important performance of his career to dominate and dismantle Liam Smith in Manchester on Saturday night.
In January, Eubank Jr, likely hindered by two weight cuts in quick succession, was stunningly stopped for the first time in his career in the fourth round, with the manner of the defeat raising questions over his longevity in the sport.
However, the 33-year-old redeemed himself with a 10th-round stoppage in a rematch that many did not want to see, with Smith saying that the sharp weight cut after injury did not help his cause.
Like at the start of the year with Eubank, there is reason to believe that it was a contributing factor, yet it should not take away from what was ultimately a calculated display from the underdog.
There were parallels to the first fight in that there was not much between the fighters during the early stages, with the fourth round being the turning point as Eubank dropped Smith with an uppercut.
Chris Eubank Jr reacts to defeating Liam Smith in the rematch.
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) September 2, 2023
🗣️ "Liam Smith is a WARRIOR!" 👏 pic.twitter.com/bHfRr3AOuR
The fifth indicated that the momentum was fully in Eubank's favour, with the away fighter unleashing a barrage of punches that hurt Smith but threatened to see Eubank empty the tank and let Smith back into the fight.
Any brief encouragement for Smith was soon extinguished, Eubank constantly peppering his opponent with hurtful jabs and combinations that effectively ended Smith's faint hopes of landing a fight-changing punch on the counter.
While the finish in the 10th - despite a second knockdown from a left hook - was perhaps not as conclusively as it could have been, with several of Eubank's punches not finding their mark, it was the correct decision from the referee with only pride keeping Smith in the fight.
An ankle injury also hindered Smith in the fight, as television replays showed, but it was not a defining factor as Eubank closed this chapter of his career to set up a likely meeting with Conor Benn, pending the outcome of an appeal from UKAD regarding the fighter being cleared for two failed drugs tests prior to their previously-arranged fight for last October.
