Chris Eubank Jr believes his New Year fight against Liam Smith is a step down in class from Conor Benn.
The Briton was due to fight Benn last month before the latter’s positive test for a banned substance saw the fight called off. As a result, Eubank Jr agreed to a January 21 bout against Smith.
Of that match-up at Manchester Arena next year, Eubank said: “I don’t think this is going to be a harder fight than Conor. He was an unknown, he was unpredictable, young, and he was undefeated. That was going to be fiery.
“I know what Liam is, there’s nothing he’s going to be able to do that’s going to confuse me or I’m not going to see coming. It’s going to be much more controllable and one I’m going to be able to win with a fair amount of ease.
“He’s predictable. There’s nothing he’s going to do on the night that I can’t foresee. He’s an old dog in the game. I know what he’s capable of.”
Eubank has said that being at 50 per cent of his best would be enough to beat Smith and revealed he was planning a training camp full of KFC food, with the fast-food chain sponsoring him in the lead-up.
And he warned the fight would not go near the distance. “I look to end every fight inside the distance,” said Eubank. “It’s not going to change for this fight.”
