Chris Eubank Jr May Avoid Taking The Liam Smith Rematch Next By Going Another Route-‘I’m Not Sure If We’re Gonna Take It Next,’ Says Coach Roy Jones Jr

It appears that Chris Eubank Jr may not get his rematch with Liam Smith as initially planned. 

His coach Roy Jones Jr has suggested that Eubank Jr may move up in weight for his next fight following his fourth-round-knockout loss against Smith.

There is every sign that Eubank Jr is keen to have a rematch with Smith. However, he may have a bout at 165 lbs in the meantime.

When speaking to Boxing UK, this is what Jones had to say: “He definitely wants the rematch clause – I’m not sure if we’re gonna take it next, but he definitely wants it.

“I don’t think that the weight was the issue, but you can never tell. We have got to have a look at him [Eubank] and see. That is why we might have to go back, fight a fight at 164/165lbs, see how he looks, and we will see what happens.”

Some have speculated that Eubank Jr’s slimming down for his postponed bout with Conor Benn might have been a factor in his loss.

Additionally, Eubank Jr’s team is pondering if they should make an appeal to the British Boxing Board of Control regarding a supposed ‘illegal elbow’ by Smith. 

And yet, following major step-ups in class against numerous opponents such as Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, Eubank Jr’s loss to Smith was just another sign that he falls short at world level.

Time is of the essence, as Eubank Jr has a time limit of about two weeks to exercise the rematch clause. He has shown a willingness to travel to Smith’s hometown of Liverpool at Anfield stadium.

However, Eubank Jr knows that back-to-back defeats will increase the calls for him to retire.