Eubank vs Smith LIVE: Results from rematch after late TKO
Re-live updates after Eubank Jr avenged his stoppage loss to Smith
Chris Eubank Jr gained revenge against Liam Smith on Saturday, stopping his rival as the Britons returned to the scene of their first clash.
Smith dropped Eubank Jr twice at Manchester’s AO Arena in January before the referee waved off the middleweight bout, but the boxers’ roles were reversed on Saturday. In the same building, it was Eubank Jr who dropped Smith twice before securing a TKO in the 10th round.
Eubank Jr, 33, looked the slicker fighter all night, switching targets between the head and body while picking his shots wisely. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Smith looked languid and was watching rounds slip away from the first bell. The first knockdown came in the fourth round – the frame in which their first fight ended – as Smith was dropped to a knee and smartly spat out his mouthguard to buy time. In fact, he bought more than he might have imagined, briefly quelling Eubank Jr’s momentum.
When the action resumed, Eubank Jr sought a finish but – as it eluded him – he elected patience as the bout wore on. In the 10th round, however, he put down Smith again with a left hook after a fast start to the round. Smith let out a deep breath as he rose to beat the referee’s count, with blood trickling from a cut above his right eye. The Liverpudlian was only delaying the inevitable, however, as Eubank Jr backed him up to the ropes and unloaded shots, overwhelming Smith. Eventually, referee Kevin Parker stepped in to wave off the fight, sealing Eubank Jr’s redemption.
Re-live updates and see all results below. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 7
McGuigan tells Azim to counter Faniian’s jumping left hook with a right cross. Sound advice.
Azim darts into range for a jab to the midriff, then retreats swiftly.
Azim is backing up now, trying to lure Faniian into opening up, but the Ukrainian is not taking the bait.
Decent right hook by Azim on the counter, as he steps back to evade Faniian.
Now he changes tack, getting on the front foot and backing up Faniian.
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 6
This has been a close fight. We enter its second half.
Faniian with a leaping left hook that finds the mark. He blocks a strong right cross from Azim.
Azim lands a jab to the body, then evades a winging hook attempt. He marches down Faniian and dodges the Ukrainian’s wild counter efforts.
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Backstage, Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr are having their hands wrapped...
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 5
It gets a little messy, as Faniian once again dives forward and seemingly causes a clash of heads. Azim then throws a punch to the back of Faniian’s head in the clinch.
Faniian now lands a short right hook, but he simultaneously leans into Azim’s own right hand.
Azim with a decent one-two. He parries a jab now, before probing with straight shots – none of which are quite on target.
Faniian misses with a left hook upstairs but lands a grazing right hook.
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 4
Azim tags Faniian with a short left hook, as Faniian crouches and lunges into range – as he’s done so many times tonight.
Now it’s Azim who lunges forward, again using his left hook. Faniian partially blocks it, but his face is sporting some redness at this point.
Faniian eats a solid right hook, then both men land simultaneously! Their chins hold up well!
Nice footwork from Azim to narrowly evade danger at the end of the round.
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 3
Faniian is edging forward, just about remaining on the front foot. Azim is happy to shuffle back and fire out jabs, though.
Azim just misses with a winging left hook. It fizzes past Faniian’s face.
OH! Hard left hook from Faniian, as Azim lets go with a right hand! Azim stumbles a little after that!
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 2
A jumping left hook is just wide of the mark for Faniian, as Azim slips off the centre line. Again, though, Azim’s counter right isn’t quite accurate enough.
Azim is shuffling back and forth with his usual wide stance. Faniian again jumps in to close range, and Azim complains to the referee about a clash of heads.
Azim jabs to the body. He still can’t quite time his right cross. He lands a jab upstairs, however.
His coach, Shane McGuigan, is shadow-boxing and shouting instructions at ringside.
Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 LIVE: Adam Azim vs Aram Faniian
Round 1
Both men stand orthodox. Azim’s lightning speed is already on display with his jab.
Faniian backs up Azim but misses with a lunging jab to the body.
Faniian appears to catch Azim on the end of a left hook to the head now.
He misses with his next effort, but Azim’s counter right – a chopping, downwards shot – is also off-target.
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