Liam Smith attributes his tenth-round TKO loss to Chris Eubank Jr to a grueling and drastic 42-pound weight cut.
Weight Cut Took Its Toll
In their second match of the year, Smith suffered a brutal defeat to Eubank Jr, with referee Kevin Parker calling off the contest after two knockdowns and a horrific cut over Smith's right eye. Smith believes that boiling himself down to 160 pounds was the true cause for his loss.
Race Against Time
In the post-fight press conference, Smith expressed how the weight cut affected him, stating, "I just couldn’t get off. I just feel the weight cut took a toll on me." He also mentioned the back injury and the rescheduled date, which added more pressure to the situation, saying, "It was always a race against time anyway and I feel it just played its part."
Movement Not Limited by Injury
Contrary to rumors, Smith dismissed the notion that his movement was limited by an ankle injury. He explained that he injured his ankle in round two or three but emphasized that it wasn't the main factor for his performance, stating, "It was more just, like, being flat. That just killed me."
Giving Credit Where It's Due
Despite the loss, Smith acknowledged Eubank Jr's skill, saying, "Chris was the better man tonight. I shout when I win, I take my defeat when I lose." He also gave credit to Eubank Jr for his sharpness in the fight, attributing his own flat performance to the weight cut.
Eubank Jr's Respect for Smith
Eubank Jr put the bad blood aside after his victory and praised Smith's effort, stating, "Liam is a warrior, I respect him, I respect his whole team and his family and his brothers. They always come out, they always put it on the line. He didn't give up, he fought till the last second. So big up to Liam and his team."
Silencing the Critics
Eubank Jr believes that his victory over Smith has silenced his critics, stating, "I had to beat Liam tonight. I threw so many punches, the lettering on my shorts fell off, it’s incredible."
