Fight week formally kicked off for the anticipated all British middleweight affair between Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith. The former two-time IBO world champion (Eubank Jr) and former WBO world super-welterweight champion (Smith) took to the Trafford Centre, Manchester to perform at the media work out and speak to the main primary broadcaster, Sky Sports.
Chris Eubank Jr was in typical confident form as he hit the pads and looked sharp with ProBox TV’s very own Roy Jones Jr, who is Eubank Jr’s trainer for this highly anticipated affair. Eubank still believes he will finish the fight within eight rounds.
"Fight week is actually fun. All the hard work is done. It’s actually a great feeling.
"Now this is the easy part. We relax, we cut the weight.
"My predictions never change. I think this is going to be an awesome fight while it lasts, but my prediction is that I go in there and stop this guy.
"You’ve got to win, that is first and foremost. If you can win and look sexy while you’re doing it, then do that."
Liam Smith believes that the increase in weight for him after being an almost career long 154lb fighter will help him that he no longer has to struggle making weight,
"It would be an upset for the people who think I can't do middleweight. Upset and surprised by it will be the people who thought I couldn't step up to 160.
"Energy levels throughout camp have been a bit different. I haven't had that little demon saying I have to get to 154 lbs.
"I've fought Mexicans in Mexico, Canelo in Texas, Russians in Russia, and he thinks a billboard's going to make a difference to my training camp or my sleep at night,
"Even the DMs he put out, he's trying to get under my skin. I don't know what for. To make me stand like a sitting duck in front of him? We'll see,"
Joseph Parker insists that his attention still remains on Jack Massey. The former WBO heavyweight world champion is focusing on fights ahead and targeting the likes of Michael Hunter, Joe Joyce but Dillian Whyte is his primary focus and targeting that particular rematch.
"I've been training. Tyson (Fury) has been there helping out. I just have to put it together now.
"If I get past Jack Massey, Michael Hunter's calling me out and saying a lot of things.
"If no one wants to fight Joe Joyce, I'll fight him again.
"A dream fight would be for the world title, but I want to fight Dillian Whyte again.
"It was a great first fight, he got the win, and I want to avenge that loss."
Richard Riakporhe faces a step up in opponent in the shape of former WBO world cruiserweight champion, Krzysztof Glowacki. Glowacki has three defeats to his name against Oleksandr Usyk, Mairis Briedis and Lawrence Okolie. The winner is most likely going to be in line for a world title opportunity later in the year of which Riakporhe is confident in securing.
"I'm not overlooking anybody.
"There's options there, there's opportunities right there and a lot of people are going to be tuned in to see what I have.
"It's just for me to deliver, once I do that, we can start talking about world title shots this year.
"I'm ready to go."
Frazer Clarke is seeking to keep continuing his development and is in a good place mentally and physically.
