Chris Eubank Jr suffered the third loss of his career at the hands of Liam Smith in round four in Manchester, however, controversy has emerged regarding the ending of the bout.
Smith put on a vicious display, as he made a mockery of the bookies when he sensationally halted Eubank Jr in round four. The first knockdown was a flurry of punches that seated the Brighton man, and the second was Smith pouncing on a wounded Eubank Jr who never recovered from the initial knockdown.
However, since the fight, Smith has been accused of using an elbow amidst his flurry of punches that inflicted the damage to send ‘Next-Gen’ to the canvas for the first time. Eubank Jr’s trainer, the legendary Roy Jones Jr, backed this theory as he hit back at people who doubted him as a trainer.
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Sky Sports have reported that Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman Boxing, who promote the Brighton man, is ‘looking at’ an appeal to the British Boxing Board of Control.
BREAKING! | Chris Eubank Jr’s promotional team are considering an appeal to the British Boxing Board of Control over an alleged elbow from Liam Smith in his stoppage win. 🚨🗞️ pic.twitter.com/Xr61vTlics
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) January 26, 2023
Social media has been rife with alternate opinions regarding the elbow. The flurry of punches were at a great speed and was hard to notice in real time, but the slowed down is doing the rounds on social media, which could be a catalyst as to why this has come to light.
Legit punch or elbow to the temple?
🤔
(All opinions respected. Posted for debate). pic.twitter.com/lgYqZFWmiH
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) January 24, 2023
Smith has yet to comment on the accusation but has said on the DAZN Boxing Show to say that it was a combination of uppercuts and hooks , but it wouldn’t come as a shock if a statement was released from the Liverpudlian in the coming days.
If Eubank Jr does appeal and is successful, it would likely change the result to a ‘No Contest’ rather than a victory for Smith. It’s well-known that their was a rematch clause in the contract if Eubank Jr was to lose, so don’t be surprised if these two collide again.