Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr's press conference sparked controversy today as the boxers traded personal exchanges ahead of their highly-anticipated bout.
The middleweight pair will face off at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night.
The build-up has been dominated by questions around who is getting under the skin of their opponent, with Smith insisting 'nerves' are kicking in for Eubank - and Eubank claiming the Scouser is 'rattled'.
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But this afternoon things took an even more personal twist at a media event to preview the BOXXER showdown. (See video above, via Boxing Social).
Eubank Jr initially joked: “You slid into my DMs. I’m used to seeing girls in my DMs, I’m not used to seeing guys.”
Smith then asked: “You go on about girls mate, has anybody in this room ever seen you with a girl?
“Have you got something to tell us, really? Because you’re 33. For no laughs or nothing...do you wanna tell us something?
“Because nobody in this room has ever seen you with a woman.”
Eubank Jr replied: "Listen, my private life is my private life. That’s irrelevant to the boxing. I’m happy, I’m comfortable.”
Smith pressed further before Eubank Jr went on to add: “It’s a very personal question to ask me directly. You can slide in my DMs or you can do it right now". Smith then said: “I’m not that type of way mate, I like women.”
As the tension continued to rise, Eubank Jr said: "It’s a bit fruity isn’t it? Talking about another man’s beard and hair." Soon after he added: "You're asking me if I'm gay. You're asking me about my beard and my hair...."
Smith cut in to say: "Because I'm sitting here talking to you in a press conference."
Eubank Jnr added: "I have a great barber. I can introduce you if you want?"
Smith hit back: "Did your barber tattoo your hair?"
Eubank Jr then said: "If you want to get dark and personal with it - talking about being gay, and do I like girls - I've been told by multiple sources that you cheat on your wife on occasion. Glass houses mate. Let's just relax. I'd rather be gay than a cheat, how about that?"
Before Smith said: "You haven't got a missus to cheat on."
According to Metro, at the conclusion of the press conference, Sky Sports presenter Anna Woolhouse apologised for ‘offensive language’ and ‘homophobic’ remarks.
Metro quotes Woolhouse as saying: "We did have an inkling that would get spicy but before we get stuck into it, we do want to apologise for any of the language that may have been used and offended you and any of the homophobic comments.
"The back and forth between them, it just went way below the belt and wasn’t necessary, it just didn’t need that and there are no excuses."
Eubank Jr took to Twitter later in the day to simply post: "Well that escalated quickly".
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