Boxing and grudge matches... a tale as old as time. Often the animosity is manufactured, other times it is not. In the case of Liam Williams and Chris Eubank Jr, there lies a genuine dislike.
It makes Saturday night’s fight at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff all the more appealing, with the potential to be an all-time classic as two middleweight fighters battle to stay relevant and in the upper echelons of their sport.
Both return to the ring with past scars, for Williams two defeats to Liam Smith and, most recently, being totally outclassed in 12 rounds when he had a stab at Demetrius Andrade’s WBO title.
For Eubank Jr, there have been chastening losses to Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, but both he and Williams have had their moments of brilliance in the ring.
Saturday night marks boxing’s coming out from a temporary hiatus for big fights amid the latest Covid winter spike and a new era for Sky Sports with Eubank Jr seen as one of its chief protagonists. Much rides on the result.
One thing that Eubank does not lack for – a trademark of the family name – is confidence.
“Styles make fights and I believe me and him have the styles to make an exciting fight, epic even,” he said in the build-up. “I can’t wait to get out there and prove the doubters, the haters and naysayers wrong as usual.
“We are on our way to world titles, to cleaning up the middleweight division. All that matters is what happens on the night and that is me standing over him and looking down and raising my first as he gets counted out.”
The Chris Eubank name must have weighed heavily, despite the younger version saying otherwise, on him throughout his career with the continual comparisons.
It is that potential weak spot that Williams has tried to pick on the past week, firing barbs that Eubank, for the most part, has fended off.
Williams said: “I don’t like this man. He is a total clown. He is running off the Eubank name. He is an embarrassment to the Eubank name. He is more interested in being a celebrity than a fighter.”
Eubank Jr need only point to his journey since his last fight for how seriously he is now taking the latter part of his career.
He relocated to the Florida farm of Roy Jones Jr to work with him as his trainer, the fruits of which ought to be seen this weekend.
“I wanted to learn from the master,” Eubank Jr said. “Roy is a genius. I have the benefit of all the knowledge and wisdom. Living on Roy’s farm for so long with roosters, chickens and dogs walking about was a bit of a shock to the system but, when you’re so focused on training, your surroundings don’t really matter.”
In the other corner is Adam Booth, with whom Eubank Jr has worked in the past, adding an interesting twist ahead of the fight. Whether he is able to unpick the relevant weaknesses for his fighter is another matter.
Williams, like his rival, is hugely confident of the outcome. “I am so, so excited to put an end to this guy,” he said. “Drop him down a few levels and maybe he’ll realise his level after this fight.”
