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      Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, PPV price, undercard for all-British bout

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      CHRIS EUBANK JR versus Liam Smith was an intriguing trade fight for the purists, before they got into a grubby slanging match TOMORROW.The Sky Sports pay-per-view spilled into the news pages on Thursday when 34-year-old Smith took a dig at Eubank Jr’s surgically enhanced hairline and then asked bizarre and uncomfortable questions about his sexuality.
      Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith at the fight weigh-inCredit: PA
      The 33-year-old son of British ring legend Chris Sr did not take the lurid accusations lying down, and told the packed Manchester press conference that he believes Smith cheats on his wife.
      It was unedifying in even the most degenerate of sporting spheres, where we operate and usually thrive off controversy.
      But these two fighters are worth more than that. They have both shown integrity and courage, even in defeats, and are both from proud fighting families.
      All three of Liam’s brothers, like him, have won British titles and Callum is also a former world champion, as Liam is at super-welter.
      Eubank Jr fancies his chances but he knows – win or lose – that the bitter Conor Benn grudge match is just around the corner.
      A Smith victory will most likely spark a rematch clause – unless Kell Brook can be coaxed out of retirement for a Sheffield vs Liverpool clash of the veterans.
      Once the bell goes, once people stop asking silly questions of two brave gladiators already riled by a punishing weight cut to 11st 7lbs, the action should be thrilling.
      Smith insists he can hurt Eubank Jr to the body. The Brighton man claims he has never ever been floored in his life.
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      Eubank Jr sees Smith as a silver-haired stepping stone to Gennady Golovkin or Benn in the summer.
      Smith reckons Eubank Jr is overrated because of his father’s name and an easy night’s work.
      Both men have proven chins, clever corners and elite engines. It looks destined for the full 12 rounds and a decision from the three British Boxing Board of Control judges.
      Let’s hope the scoring is far less controversial than the build-up antics.
      When is Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith?
      Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith will take place on Saturday, January 21 – TOMORROW.
      The main event is expected to start at around 10pm UK time.
      The AO Arena in Manchester plays host.
      Eubank Jr’s fight against Conor Benn was scupperedCredit: PA
      What TV channel and live stream is Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith on?
      Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office.
      The event will cost £19.95 and the show expected to start from 6pm.
      Who is fighting on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith undercard?
      Ekow Essuman vs Chris Kongo is a trade fight for real British boxing fans.
      Ekow ‘The Engine’ is 18-0 but the understated Nottingham man flies under the radar.
      Kongo was undone by tricky southpaw Michael McKinson back in 2021 but has bounced back with two wins and is now 14-1.
      Frazer Clarke needs better opposition than the 7-6 bodybag he is going to batter, it’s poor matchmaking and he deserves better, as do paying fans.
      Say a prayer for Manchester cruiserweight Jack Massey too, who is making his heavyweight debut against former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker.
      The 30-3 Kiwi has genuine knockout power at 18st and is taking on a beanpole whose 20-1 record has been attained at around 14st 4lbs.
      And Olympian Frazer Clarke is also on the bill.

      Main event: Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith (middleweight)
      Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki (cruiserweight)
      Joseph Parker vs Jack Massey (heavyweight)
      Chris Kongo vs Ekow Essuman

      Eubank Jr vs Smith prediction
      Liam Smith is the smaller man but the more technically gifted. If he can cope with Eubank’s early aggression, he should be able to dominate.
      Since linking up with multi-weight legend Roy Jones Jr, Eubank has seemed caught in two contrasting styles.
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      RJJ insists his star student now has two ways to win; to slug out a victory or to box and move.
      But doubters will worry about teaching an old dog new tricks. More

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      Floyd Mayweather’s Brit opponent pulls out of 02 fight just HOURS after announcement and reveals he is ‘heartbroken’

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      LIAM HARRISON has denied that will be taking on Floyd Mayweather.It was announced this morning that the boxing legend would be making his British debut with an exhibition showdown against Harrison on February 25 at The O2.
      Floyd Mayweather was claimed to be making his UK debutCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Mayweather shared this poster on his Instagram accountCredit: Instagram / @floydmayweather
      Money, who will turn 46 the day before the bout was scheduled to take place, seemingly confirmed the news on Instagram by sharing the official poster for the event.
      He captioned it with: “#London February 25th, It’s official. My first exhibition fight in the UK will be at the O2 Arena 🇬🇧 Tickets go on sale next week. Stay Tuned!!”
      But Harrison, who is contracted to MMA promotion ONE, rubbished the announcement just hours later.
      He wrote on social media: “Many of you will have seen the announcement this morning about my fight with Floyd Mayweather.
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      “Devastatingly, my knee just won’t allow it. Discussions about the fight started a few days ago with the Mayweather team and I honestly thought I would be ok in a boxing fight, even needing surgery on my knee.
      “I upped my training as soon as discussions started and had some hard sparring and pads but almost immediately my knee had ballooned up and I can’t walk.
      “Hitting pads is fine but the movement and agility needed to spar and especially fight just isn’t possible.
      “My surgeon is in agreement that this won’t be possible and I am absolutely heartbroken. This fight and everything that would have come with it would have changed my life.
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      “Furthermore, no contract for this has been received or signed. I’m exclusively contracted to ONE and I had approached them for permission and sign off.
      “Without receipt of the contract and ONE’s review and approval of this, nothing was confirmed.
      “Floyd is the greatest boxer of all time and I would have wanted to put in a good account of myself. Not just for me but for the whole muaythai community…
      “I’m seriously flattered to have been even approached for this fight and I really think I could have done well in it.
      I really hope when I’m recovered we can make this fight happenLiam Harrison
      “But, as things stand, I’m going to have to stick to my surgery next week.
      “I really hope when I’m recovered we can make this fight happen.”
      Harrison is a decorated Muay Thai fighter from Leeds.
      “The Hitman” has a career record of 90-25-2 (50 KO) in his sport. 
      Mayweather’s last professional contest came back in 2017 when he moved to 50-0 with a comfortable victory over UFC star Conor McGregor.
      But since hanging up the gloves as a pro, he has kept himself busy by raking in millions through exhibition contests.
      He has faced Don Moore in Abu Dhabi, Mikuru Asakura in Japan, and Logan Paul in the US.
      Then in November, he beat KSI’s brother Deji in Dubai.
      The American recently hinted that the UK would be the next stop on his exhibition tour by saying: “In February we’re looking forward to coming here and putting on an exhibition for the fans in the UK, because I never had a chance to come over here and fight when I was actively boxing as a professional. 
      “So hopefully in February I’ll come over and do an exhibition if it’s possible.”
      That came after he previously dropped another hint back in October after he beat MMA veteran Asakura.
      He said: “We don’t know [where the rest of my bouts will take place] but of course, if the price is right then I am on my way [to the UK].
      “It’s always a few million a minute. From this exhibition [against Asakura] alone I will [be] making somewhere upwards of 15-20million dollars.
      “That’s just from this exhibition. So, it’s cool. Nine minutes, 20 million, not bad.”
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      Although Mayweather never competed in the UK as a pro, he did beat legendary British boxer Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas in 2007.
      His other biggest wins came against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Marcos Maidana and Manny Pacquiao.
      Floyd Mayweather, pictured against Mikuru Asakura, is raking it in from his exhibitionsCredit: Reuters More

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      Tyson Fury clash with Oleksandr Usyk terms agreed with only venue to be finalised ahead of huge unification showdown

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      TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk have agreed terms over a blockbuster heavyweight unification title fight with only the venue to be finalised. The two title holders are set to collide later this year after clearing the path with Fury beating Derek Chisora and Usyk seeing off Anthony Joshua in a rematch.
      Arum (right) says Fury (left) and Usyk have agreed to the fightCredit: Getty
      A Middle Eastern country will host the heavyweight showdownCredit: Getty
      Usyk was ringside for Fury’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium clash with Chisora and even came face-to-face with his rival.
      And with the fight deal nearing completion, history is set to be made, with all four heavyweight belts having never been on the line in the same fight.
      Fury’s American promoter, Bob Arum, has confirmed that Fury and Usyk have agreed to the title showdown, and that an unidentified Middle Eastern country will host the bout.
      But if a venue in the Middle Eastern cannot be found, then Wembley Stadium would be on the table to play host.
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      Top Rank CEO Arum told Sky Sports: “I’m very optimistic the fight is going to happen.
      “Both fighters have agreed to do the fight, the question is the site and we’re talking to the Middle East because allegedly they’re going to come up with the biggest purse ever in boxing history.
      “And if they do, that’s where the fight is going to go because money is money.
      “If they don’t, both fighters will agree to do the fight this spring at Wembley… but the fight will happen in my opinion, certainly within the first four months of the year.
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      “Fighters want to do the best for themselves because a fighter’s career, no matter how great he is, is limited and they want to make as much money as possible.
      “So that’s the only issue – where will the fight be held?
      “I would believe in the next week that will be determined and then we’ll have an official announcement of the date and site for the fight – but that fight is happening.” More

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      Anthony Joshua next opponent to be announced next week as Eddie Hearn finalises contracts for April 1 comeback

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S next opponent will be announced next week.And promoter Eddie Hearn admits he is close to finalising the contracts for AJ’s April 1 comeback.
      Eddie Hearn is finalising contracts for Anthony Joshua’s next fightCredit: PA
      Jermaine Franklin is being tipped to fight AJ after losing to Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty
      The 33-year-old Brit has not fought since August’s rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, who also beat him in September 2021.
      Joshua’s last victory came over two years ago when he took down Kubrat Pulev.
      And Hearn is keen to secure a big-name opponent who can put AJ back on track to fight the likes of Tyson Fury.
      There had been talk of a brutal battle against Filip Hrgovic, but he has been ordered to face Andy Ruiz Jr in an IBF eliminator.
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      Meanwhile, Hearn has also effectively ruled out Otto Wallin and Demsey McKean after revealing AJ does not want to take on another southpaw.
      That could leave Jermaine Franklin as the man to fight Joshua on April Fool’s Day, with the American looking to avenge November’s London defeat to Dillian Whyte.
      But fans won’t have to wait too long to find out, as Hearn is currently finalising contracts with a plan to confirm the bout next week.
      He told Boxing Social: “[Franklin] is definitely in the mix. Demsey McKean is still in the mix.
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      “The link-up with a new trainer means a southpaw fighter, even though AJ just boxed one of them twice, is not ideal.
      “When you look at the future for Anthony Joshua, the future revolves around Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte.
      “They’re three orthodox fighters. It is likely that he will face an orthodox fighter next.
      “I think Jermaine Franklin is a great fighter. People say ‘it’s definitely Franklin’. Nothing is signed and agreed with.
      “But Franklin is coming off a fight where it was very close with Whyte. Some people felt he won that fight.” More

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      Canelo Alvarez opens talks to return against Brit John Ryder with boxing superstar in line for massive UK debut fight

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      CANELO ALVAREZ has opened talks to face Britain’s John Ryder – and could be in line for a massive UK boxing debut.The Mexican wants to avenge his light-heavyweight loss to Dmitry Bivol next September but will return in a May fight beforehand.
      Canelo Alvarez has opened talks to face Britain’s John RyderCredit: Getty
      John Ryder is mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s WBO titleCredit: Getty
      And after beating Gennady Golovkin, 40, last September in their trilogy bout, Canelo, 32, retained his undisputed super-middleweight crown.
      And Ryder, 34, became the WBO mandatory challenger after beating Zach Parker, 28, in November.
      It puts him in line for a shot at Canelo and promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed negotiations are underway.
      He told DAZN: “I’ve been speaking to Eddie Reynoso and the team over the last couple of days; we’re negotiating that fight at the moment.
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      “Obviously, Canelo’s got options, it doesn’t have to be John Ryder, but he is the mandatory.
      “We’re trying to agree on a deal with Canelo Alvarez, and we’re trying to agree to a deal with John Ryder as well.
      “We’d like to see that fight internationally, something a little bit different for Saul, and hopefully we can conclude a deal for that in the coming weeks.”
      Venues in Europe, America and the Middle East are all options for Canelo, which could pave the way for a UK debut.
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      Hearn said: “UK, Middle East, even the US, Mexico.
      “Saul can fight anywhere, but it’s always been a plan of mine to take him around the world, and I’d love to be a part of it.”
      Canelo was beaten by WBA light-heavyweight champion Bivol, 32, in May 2022 but the pair are lined up to rematch later this year.
      Dmitry Bivol beat Canelo Alvarez in May 2022Credit: Getty More

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      Tommy Fury’s dad says Jake Paul fight is ’99 per cent’ done and promises to shake YouTuber’s hand if he beats his son

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      JOHN FURY said his son Tommy’s fight with Jake Paul is 99 per cent done – and promised to shake the YouTube star’s hand if he wins. The celebrity boxing rivals are set to announce the latest rescheduling of their grudge match, slated for February 25 in Saudi Arabia
      John Fury said his son Tommy’s fight with Jake Paul is 99 per cent doneCredit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
      Jake Paul in his Puerto Rico gymCredit: @jakepaul
      And Fury’s dad and coach John confirmed the final touches are being put together before an official announcement is made.
      He told The Metro, via FreeBets.com: “We are 99 and three-quarters per cent there and for my money, it is on.

      “We are ready, he is ready we are just waiting now to get the final confirmation and I think they will announce it very soon.”
      This now acts the third time the pair will attempt to settle their score in the ring.
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      Fury, 23, was forced to pull out in December 2021 due to a rib injury and then last August amid a US visa issue.
      The travel woe still persists today, which left the UK and Middle East as frontrunners to host the bitter bout.
      Paul, 26, even offered to travel to Manchester on February 18 and fight Fury on enemy territory.
      But a more lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia a week later was proposed and looks to have won the race.
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      Saudi boxing boss Prince Khaled added to further speculation as he posted a video with the tune, “signed, sealed, delivered.”
      Fury last boxed in Dubai in November in a last-minute exhibition against Rolly Lambert, 33.
      And Paul was a special guest commentator and slammed the six-round bout from ringside.
      He even clashed with John, who ripped off his top and called to fight the American BARE-KNUCKLE.
      But the former journeyman boxer vowed to congratulate Paul if he was to beat his son.
      If Jake Paul can beat Tommy, I will be the first one to pat him on the back and give him the height of respect. Up close and personal.John Fury
      John said: “After the fight, whoever wins, it will be a handshaking job, a pat on the back well done.
      “Deep down, that is what the Furys are about, especially John Fury, the best man wins and gets his hand shook.
      “If Jake Paul can beat Tommy, I will be the first one to pat him on the back and give him the height of respect. Up close and personal.”
      Despite the offer of respect, John can only see one winner in the fight.
      He said: “The best man will win. I don’t think Jake Paul has got a chance. I really don’t.
      “Looking at his past performances and who he is has been boxing, Tommy is a far cry. Another level. But fair credit to him for stepping up to the plate.
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      “We are not in the ring yet, things can happen and until both men have faced each other it is not a foregone conclusion but we want it.
      “If this fight doesn’t take place, it won’t be because of us. I’m doing my best to keep the lid on everything to keep it so we can perform and so far, so good.”
      Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are set to fight on February 25Credit: BT Sport More

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      Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn opens door to ‘fascinating’ fight with Francis Ngannou after MMA star’s UFC exit

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      EDDIE HEARN has opened the door to a “fascinating” fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou. Ngannou is free to make a switch to boxing after walking out on the UFC while champion after failing to agree a new contract.
      Eddie Hearn opened the door to a ‘fascinating’ fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis NgannouCredit: PA
      Francis Ngannou has left the UFCCredit: Getty
      The Cameroonian called out Joshua, 33, and Tyson Fury, 34, with the prospect talked up by promoter Hearn.
      He told DAZN: “I think AJ is all about the biggest fights and the biggest challenges.
      “I think AJ has got his mind on becoming a three-time world champion, but a fight against Francis Ngnannou is fascinating.”
      Ngannou, 36, has been stripped of the UFC heavyweight title and confirmed he is eyeing a move into boxing.
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      He said on The MMA Hour: “I still want to achieve something in boxing and I want to stay in MMA as well.
      “I discovered MMA first in my life and I feel like I have some mileage to give in my sport.
      “In a perfect world, I go out there get some boxing match then get some MMA, depending on the challenges that are out there.
      “If they are out there, I want to fight the top guys in boxing. I don’t know, I think Fury has retired and come back.
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      “I don’t know where Fury is right now, but now it is time. Before, we could not do anything concrete beyond the social media stuff.
      “Whatever it is, if it is with Tyson Fury, I will take it. I have no problem doing boxing with 4oz gloves, we will figure it out.
      “Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua would be my first ideal opponent.”
      Francis Ngannou pictured with UFC president Dana WhiteCredit: Getty More

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      Kell Brook, 36, ready to make return and ‘desperate’ to fight Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith winner and will be ringside

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      KELL BROOK will be ringside to watch Chris Eubank Jr’s fight with Liam Smith – because he is “desperate” for the winner. Brook walked away on top after stopping long-time rival Amir Khan in six rounds last February.
      Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith ahead of their fightCredit: Getty
      Kell Brook will be ringside to watch Chris Eubank Jr’s fight with Liam SmithCredit: Getty
      But the former IBF welterweight world champion has struggled to avoid the temptation of a comeback.
      Brook’s intrigue will bring him to Manchester on Saturday, the scene of the crime for his retirement fight.
      Promoter Ben Shalom told Sky Sports: “Kell will be there on Saturday.
      “He’s desperate for the winner of that fight. He wanted the Eubank fight after the Khan fight.
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      “He feels he wants the winner of this fight whether that’s Liam Smith or whether that’s Eubank Jr.
      “There is a rematch clause, so if Liam does win Eubank will have the option with that one.
      “But there’ll be massive fights for whoever the winner is. Huge nights and Kell Brook definitely wants to be one of them.”
      Brook, 36, held talks to fight Eubank after stopping rival Khan, 36, but it led to nothing.
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      Eubank, 33, instead moved on to a mega-fight with Conor Benn, 26, but it was dramatically scrapped just days before.
      A failed drug test from Benn saw the bout scrapped with the welterweight now fighting to clear his name.
      Meanwhile, it left Eubank to turn his attention to former sparring partner Smith, 34, and neither can afford a loss.
      Shalom said: “Both of them want to fight again in the summer. “This a springboard to massive fights in 2023.
      “But this is the one they’re both focused on. Were Chris to lose this, it really will be difficult to come back from and Liam the same.”
      Chris Eubank Jr, promoter Ben Shalom and Liam SmithCredit: Getty More