Eubank Jr vs Smith LIVE: Fight updates, result and reaction as Smith scores stunning KO

If it comes down to who has the superior nickname, then Riakporhe is a shoo-in. ‘The Midnight Train’ is great stuff.

We’re underway.

A lot of the fights on the undercard have gone long (what else is new...) so we’re pretty much straight on to the main support fight.

Richard Riakporhe and Krzysztof Glowacki have completed their ring walks and in the squared circle now.

Riakporhe is 15-0 but this is a step up in class for the Brit. Glowacki has some pedigree in the cruiserweight division - he’s a former world champion, having held the WBO belt, has a 32-3 record and the first of those defeats came to Oleksandr Usyk back in 2016.

More recently, the Pole has lost to Mairis Briedis and Lawrence Okolie, so he’s probably not the fighter he was but he knows his way around the ring...

Victory for Riakporhe could catapult him into the cruiserweight world title conversation though. Plenty on the line for the Londoner.

The venerable Steve Bunce has given his thoughts on this evening’s main event.

”Smith and Eubank Jr have been in the same fighting circles for a long time, sparring on occasion, eyeing each other up, separated by a few pounds and inevitably pulled together when the sums made sense. It is a very good fight at any weight; Eubank Jr has none of the weight-draining obligations hanging high above his head that he had for last year’s cancelled fight with Conor Benn. It was called off after an irregular drug test surfaced and after a bad 24 hours for the sport, where it looked like the pound note and not common sense and decency would rule the day. Benn was brutally cast out.

“The fallout from that failure is still being felt, but Eubank Jr has insisted that it has not caused him to lose a moment of sleep. “It happened, the fight was off - I moved on and now I have to beat Liam,” said Eubank Jr. Meanwhile, Benn is still insisting that he is innocent of all drug charges and is hoping to totally clear his name in the coming weeks.

“Smith emerged as an opponent from that mess and that is how the year will start with a tremendous domestic fight. It is, make no mistake, a risk for both.”

Just one more fight before Eubank Jr and Smith get it on. Our main support bout is Richard Riakporhe vs Krzysztof Glowacki at cruiserweight. Should be a good ‘un.

Essuman came on really strong in that fight and that was ultimately the difference. No complaints about those cards, could have gone either way and the judges’ scores reflect how tight it was.

Essuman moves to 19-0 and is STILL British and Commonwealth welterweight champion but boy did he have to work hard for it.

First judge’s card is 114-114

Second judge is 116-113

Third judge 115-114

The majority decision goes to EKOW ESSUMAN! Tight, tight fight but the champ retains his belts!

That was a fun fight and the cards should be pretty tight. Got a feeling that either man will feel hard done-by if they lose...

Good British title action, that

Big last 180 seconds of this fight. Both fighters will think the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles are still up for grabs if they win the 12th.

Essuman catches Kongo with a backhand over the top but it’s generally Essuman trying to come forward a bit more than the challenger.

HUGE RIGHT from Essuman. Kongo wobbled, his legs buckle but he holds on. Essuman charges forward, although a good counter-right landed by Kongo. Another good shot by Kongo.

And that’s it. The bell rings and the fighters tap gloves and embrace. Essuman’s round because of that big shot maybe?

No celebrations from either man - this genuinely could go either way. We await the cards

Good uppercut from Kongo off the ropes but Essuman lands a right hand that shudders through the challenger.

Kongo is spending more time on the ropes, which is never a good look in the judges’ eyes, even if your opponent isn’t landing a lot.

The champ tapping away to the body and he’s starting to dictate the pace again. Man, this could go either way.