Liam Smith stuns Chris Eubank Jr by stopping him in the fourth round | boxing

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Liam Smith stopped Chris Eubank Jr. with brutal, clinical power in the fourth round of the middleweight competition in Manchester on Saturday night. His decisive victory, after an initially competitive and exciting bout, settled the simmering feud between the two men and earned Smith the right to engage in more high-profile fights. While there was no title at stake in this domestic clash between fierce local rivals, Smith knew that a fourth defeat in his 37th match would be devastating for his future prospects. Eubanks Jr., under the age of 33, looked dazed and distressed under Smith’s grip.

Pinned in his own corner shockingly early in the deciding round, Eubank Jr was caught through a hazy flurry of strikes that culminated in a left hook and right handcuff that sent him collapsing to the canvas. He was on his back, right gloved desperately trying to grip the ropes so he could pull himself up to his feet. When he managed to get up, Eubank Jr. staggered drunkenly towards the referee, Victor Laughlin, but was visibly hurt and disoriented. He spread his hands, suspiciously, as Laughlin counted. It was as if he was asking the referee why he was still shouting: “Six… seven… eight.”

But that number wasn’t long enough to clear Eubank Jr.’s head. Smith ripped him off, and although none of his punches looked particularly harmful, Eubank Jr. was reeling. He descended again in a messy pile and Laughlin rightfully stepped in to save him. The fact of his defeat suddenly seemed to drive Eubank into a pointless act of defiance. He pushed the referee and ran towards Smith miserably as if he wanted to continue the fight. Smith came back to defend himself, but the referees jumped into the ring to save Eubank Jr. from himself.

A terrible swelling visibly began to grow under his right eye as Eubank was pushed back into his corner. The end was shattering for a man who, despite losing two of his previous 34 fights, never seemed in danger of going down. Ten days ago he had bragged to me of his “iron jaw”, which he claimed he had “inherited from my old man”. But even Eubank Sr. has been hurt badly in the later stages of his career and his son must consider his future very carefully.

Smith has generally campaigned in the Super-welter – the Thoroughbred lower middleweight division in Eubank Jr. But he finished in dominant style at this crossroads battle for both men. The impressive Smith, with his gray hair who hates the vitality and power of his punches, was tested in the third round when a series of Eubank Jr.’s jerks landed him in the middle. It looked as though Eubank Jr., who quietly boxed in behind his jab in the opening two rounds, was beginning to take control after Smith’s early rush of aggression caught the eye.

Liam Smith shows his happiness after defeating Chris Eubank Jr. Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

There were plenty of feuds between the fighters in the crowd, and Smith reacted stupidly at Thursday’s weigh-in when he resorted to homophobia. Eubank Jr. responded with some rows the next day as he wore a rainbow armband and showed why he became more popular years after being kicked out as a cold, arrogant boxer whose money-making powers were linked directly to him. Father’s status as a former world champion.

But this crushing defeat – after previous losses to very good fighters in Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves – should end any lingering illusions that he could match his father in becoming world champion. Eubank Jr. also told me recently that he’s worried about the brain damage boxing can cause, and so we just hope he agrees to live the rest of his life on the safe side of the ropes.

Eubank Sr. retired from boxing at the age of 32, and his 33-year-old son would do well to follow suit. However, the possibility is that Eubank Jr will continue to fight as he remains one of the biggest names in British boxing.

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He was a relatively innocent victim of the controversy surrounding the cancellation of his previously planned match against Conor Bean last October. Bean tested positive for clomiphene, a performance-enhancing drug that boosts testosterone in men, but Eubank Jr. was so eager to fight that he agreed to enter the ring, despite having to drop a dangerous amount of weight to make the maximum catch weight of 157 lbs. This manufactured but ridiculously lucrative contest. He admits it would have been a farce had the bout taken place and quickly accepts the serious challenge of Smith – a much larger and much more experienced fighter than Bean. The impact of losing weight and the chaos over a shameful incident in British boxing may have taken its toll on Eubank Jr.

But none of that should diminish the quality of Smith’s performance. He has been fighting professionally since 2008 and he came into this match with a smart game plan and iron will. Smith can take great satisfaction from his shaky victory in Manchester and look forward to much bigger paychecks and important fights next year. The contrasting fortunes of Smith and Eubank Jr., two disparate men, could not have been more evident in the violent end to a raucous evening in Manchester.

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