LIAM SMITH has BEATEN Chris Eubank Jr after a massive shot in the fourth round saw the Brighton man hit the canvas.
Eubank Jr had a promising third round with some well-paced shots, but Smith completely rocked his opponent in the fourth with a shot to end the fight.
Tyson Fury and David Haye are ringside in Manchester for this big bout at the AO Arena, with the winner set for a world title shot next.
- Ring walk time: 10.30pm approx
- TV channel: Sky Sports Box Office
- Live Stream: Sky Sports Box Office
- PPV price: £19.95 in the UK
- Main event: Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith – ON NOW
- Richard Riakporhe BEATS Krzysztof Głowacki
- Ekow Essuman BEATS Chris Kongo
- Joseph Parker BEATS Jack Massey
- Frazer Clarke BEATS Kevin Espindola
- Matty Harris BEATS Jiri Surmaj
- Scott Forrest BEATS Amine Boucetta
Stay up to date with all the action from fight night…
Eubank Jr vs Smith
HUGE WIN FOR LIAM SMITH! ROUND 4 KO!
He catches Eubank Jr in the corner and lands a barrage of punches.
His legs go, he staggers up but he’s all over the place.
He goes down again and the referee waves it off!
SMITH KO IN ROUND 4. WHAT A WIN FOR THE LIVERPOOL MAN!
Eubank Jr vs Smith
EUBANK JR DOWN! REF STOPS THE FIGHT!
Eubank Jr vs Smith
George Groves: “You can’t stand in the middle of the ring and let Chris Eubank Jr tee of on you”
Round 4 starts!
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 3 – Popping jabs from Eubank Jr but nothing that’s keeping Smith off or making him commit.
Smith lunges in and tries to land a shot, which whizzes past the target.
Another close round. Eubank Jr getting a bit sharper here and sneaks in a good uppercut.
Smith looks to be HURT towards the end of the round! MASSIVE UPPERCUTS.
Bell saves Smith!
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 3 – Eubank Jr will have to land his jab a bit more cleanly here to keep Smith off.
He’s charging forward and throwing some big shots over the shoulder.
Smith lucky as he throws a big shot to the back of Eubank Jr’s head. Ref warns him.
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 2 – Smith getting back into the round and trying to find some openings.
Eubank Jr moving around the ring and trying to get away from the Liverpool bruiser.
He has a strong end to the round. Another close round.
Eubank Jr – Smith
Round 2 – Smith looks to be the man pressing here, but Eubank Jr’s skill is coming to the forefront.
The Brighton fighter is ducking and diving around Smith’s shots so far in this round.
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 2 – Eubank Jr wants to take the centre of the ring now and try and snap his jab out.
His fast hands are coming through early in this second round, with a bit more sharpness.
Smith tries to land with some big hooks of his own to respond!
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 1 – Smith charges his man and tries to smother his rival. Lots of cheers from the crowd but nothing landed.
Eubank Jr lands a good shot but Smith shakes his head – Did it hurt him though?
Bell goes for the end of the round. Smith probably gets it, very close.
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 1 – The pair clinch halfway through the round, sharp start from each man.
Smith lands a good right hand and Eubank Jr fires a hook that skims his rival’s head.
Smith has looked a bit more composed. Not a lot in it though.
Eubank Jr vs Smith
Round 1 – Smith and Eubank underway and the Liverpool man starts fast taking the centre of the ring.
The crowd are behind the Scouser here.
Eubank Jr trying to establish his jab.
IT’S TIME!
They’re ready to go! Both fighters in the ring!
Fatherly glove
Chris Eubank Sr has been a largely silent figure in son Jr’s career of late – but has broken his silence with well wishes and a warning to Liam Smth.
Sr tweeted; “Good luck, Son. As I’ve always taught you, the harder you train, the luckier you become.
“You started your training camp 19 years ago, so to @Liambeefysmith and your team….YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.”
Riakporhe wins
The victor calls out all three cruiserweight champions, Jai Opetaia, Ilunga Makabu and Lawrence Okolie.
But we also have Chris Billam-Smith on the ring apron and ready to come into the ring.
Riakporhe narrowly beat Billam-Smith in 2019 and the Sky Sports-signed pair could rematch down the road.
Riakporhe wins
With that, we are one step closer to the main-event!
Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith are up next and there’s not long to go.
And honestly, the crowd here in Manchester could do with a boost, so the ring walks are much needed.
Riakporhe wins
Riakporhe landed a big right hand which sent Glowacki into the corner and he reined down with punches.
Not a lot landed clean but there was enough volume to force the ref’s hand.
It’s Riakporhe’s biggest win – doing it two rounds quicker than Okolie – and keeps him on track for a world title shot.
Riakporhe vs Glowacki
Round 4 – It’s Glowacki who is taking control in this round, coming forward and looping hooks over.
Sneaky left hand finds the target as Glowacki sneaks to the outside.
But Riakporhe has Glowacki hurt with a right hand and the Pole is backed into the corer… AND IT’S OVER!
Riakporhe vs Glowacki
Round 3 – Riakporhe is stalking but not pulling the trigger.
He goes to the body with a right hand but nothing is finding home.
You feel the Brit needs to let his hands go better as we head into the fourth round.
Riakporhe vs Glowacki
Round 3 – Riakporhe is stalking but not pulling the trigger.
He goes to the body with a right hand but nothing is finding home.
You feel the Brit needs to let his hands go better as we head into the fourth round.
Riakporhe vs Glowacki
Round 2 – MASSIVE right hand stuns Glowacki and the Pole is reeling back.
Here comes Riakporhe, who sense his man is hurt but Glowacki does well to recover there.
Big round for Riakporhe as he found his range and landed a beautifully timed right hand, but couldn’t close the show.
Riakporhe vs Glowacki
Round 1 – Here we go, Riakporhe’s biggest test to date. Okolie got the job done is six, can he go one better?
Bit of an awkward start as the clash of stances is causing the feet to come together but Glowacki does land a left over the top.
Glowacki has Riakporhe in the corner but the Londoner shoots a good right hand down the pipe to close out a cagey opener for him.
Up next
Richard Riakporhe continues his quest for a world title against potentially his biggest test.
He welcomes Polish former world champion Krzysztof Glowacki to Manchester.
Fans will recognise Głowacki for his losing effort in 2020 to Lawrence Okolie, who won the WBO title that night.
Essuman vs Kongo
Judges score the bout 114-114, 1116-113, 115-114 and your winner… and STILL British and Commonwealth champion Ekow Essuman.
It’s Essuman’s aggression which trumps Kongo’s back foot boxing style.
Tight fight but not one that caught fire and that we’re ever likely to see again.
Essuman vs Kongo
Judges score the bout 114-114, 1116-113, 115-114 and your winner… and STILL British and Commonwealth champion Ekow Essuman.
It’s Essuman’s aggression which trumps Kongo’s back foot boxing style.
Tight fight but not one that caught fire and that we’re ever likely to see again.
Essuman vs Kongo
Intriguing one throughout with Kongo the sharper, more disciplined working behind his jab.
But Essuman had his moments and landed some big shots, notably in the final stages.
Kongo for my money does enough on points, but we’re about to see what the all important three judges think.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
