Chris Eubank Jr. Vs. Liam Smith: Odds, Records, Prediction

Eleven months after last stepping in the ring—and less than three months after his high-profile fight against Conor Benn had to be scrapped after Benn failed a drug test—Chris Eubank Jr. will get to take another important step in his career on Saturday against a former world titlist in Liam Smith. And there are plenty of bad feelings between these two. Here’s everything you need to know about Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.

Eubank and Benn were set for their UK mega-fight in October, but Benn tested positive for a fertility drug that increases testosterone and that’s also used as a drug masking agent. Though it was originally believed the fight could be saved (or at least postponed), Eubank had to move on. And now he’ll face Smith, a former 154-pound titlist who continues to be a tough opponent.

The two have tussled on social media as they bantered back and forth in their Instagram DMs with Eubank taunting that he would cook Smith—whose nickname is “Beefy”—medium, well-done, or bloody.

“He sent a video, that come in my DM’s, so I just replied to him . . . He replied and started trying to get into his games, so I said, ‘Are you really that nervous that you are still trying to get under my skin?’ We are a week out, we’re here now, you don’t need to try no more,” Smith said, via Boxing Social.

“I feel like it is a bit of nerves showing with him. It’s hard to then carry on the DMs when he is saying, ‘Do you want it medium, well-done or bloody?’ . . . I just think it is his nerves kicking in. I think that the penny has dropped, and he knows that he can’t get in my head. He knows he can’t intimidate me in that way.”

Then, things got really nasty this week during a press conference where Smith revealed some of his homophobic thoughts and Eubank responded by accusing Smith of infidelity.

“I’d rather be gay than a cheat,” Eubank said.

Eubank followed that up on Friday with a fashion statement at the weigh-in.

One person who’s fought both men said he thinks the underdog can pull out the victory.

“[Smith] is very well schooled,” Liam Williams, who lost to Smith by decision twice in 2017 and fell to Eubank by decision last year, said, via Sky Sports. “He’s got the basics nailed down really well. Obviously, he’s got a good engine, he puts that pressure on. A good body puncher, he sets up the attacks really well. I think it’s an interesting fight for sure, but I feel like Smith is going to win this fight.”

The oddsmakers say otherwise.

Here’s more info on the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on DAZN beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith odds

Chris Eubank is a -300 betting favorite (bet $300 to win $100), while Smith is a +240 underdog (win $240 to win $100), as of Friday afternoon. The bettors, though, seem to be favoring Eubank. Earlier this month, Eubank was -250 and Smith was +175.

There’s not much value in Eubank’s money line. But there is some in taking Eubank to win by decision at +110. I don’t love taking Smith’s money line either, but I’d be a little more comfortable in taking Smith to win by decision at +333.

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith records

The last time Eubank fought for a world title was in 2018, which was also the last time he lost (to George Groves). Since then, Eubank (32-2, 23 KOs) has won six-straight fights, including victories against former world titlist James DeGale and Mat Korobov. He also has victories against Arthur Abraham and Spike O’Sullivan.

In the two biggest fights of his career, Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) lost to Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia. But Smith did own a 154-pound title, and he holds victories against Jessie Vargas and Sam Eggington. If Smith could pull of the upset, it’d be the biggest victory of his career.

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith prediction

Smith is a fine fighter. He’s a former titlist, and even against the best opponents he’s faced, he’s been competitive and tough. But he also tends to lose to the most talented fighters he faces, and I think Eubank is good enough to at least be mentioned in the same breath as Munguia and Magomed Kurbanov. Smith should be competitive for at least the first few rounds, but Eubank’s boxing skill will eventually win out. Say Eubank by decision, somewhere in the 116-112 range.