Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith clash at fiery press conference

Chris Eubank Jr claims ‘the bad guy is back’, as he goes face-to-face with rival Liam Smith ahead of their bout on January 21.

After the frustration of missing out on a super-fight with Conor Benn, the Brighton man is gagging to get back in the ring. And while his latest opponent may not carry the name value of ‘The Destroyer’, he undoubtedly makes for a bigger test, as unlike either of the two men who were scheduled to meet on October 8, Smith has reached the pinnacle of the sport.

Back in 2015, Smith claimed the WBO super welterweight world title with a stunning knockout victory over John Thompson. And while he’s fallen short against Canelo Alvarez and Jamie Munguia, he’s still considered among the best fighters in his weight class.

However, Eubank Jr, who’s operated at middleweight and super middleweight, dismissed the challenge his rival presents. The 33-year-old made his way to the stage earlier today, dressed in a KFC jacket, claiming that his opponent won’t provide any sort of test whatsoever.

Eubank Jr claimed: “I think 50% of what I can do will be enough to beat Liam.

“The bad guy is back. He never cheats, he never lies, he never cuts any corners, but he’s still the bad guy.”

His comments unsurprisingly prompted a big response from the Liverpudlian.

Read: Canelo Alvarez makes violent threat towards Lionel Messi (sporf.com)

Chris Eubank Jr and Liam engaged in a heated exchange at the press conference

“That’s just him being him,” Smith rebutted. “You come in at 50%, please do.

“What are you paying Roy Jones [his trainer] for then?

“Why put a rematch clause in?”

"50%!" ?

Eubank Jr and Smith go back-and-forth! ? @Boxxer | @WassermanBoxing pic.twitter.com/Cvzgk6BX43

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 29, 2022

He continued: “I know his whole team know this is a lot tougher fight for him which is why this rematch clause got put in place. He doesn’t make the weight as great as he makes out.

“Eubank Jr holds a good shot. His chin will get tested and his body will get tested too. I can knock anyone out, especially with ten-ounce gloves on.”

While the fight is still a while away, the fighters certainly whetted the appetite of the fans with their trash-talk. Now, all we can do is wait until the New Year, to find out which of the two men can deliver on the night.

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports