CHRIS EUBANK JR faces a daunting rematch against Liam Smith at Anfield – in a fight that could make or break his career.
Eubank hit the canvas for the first time in his professional career to leave the Manchester Arena stunned.
Chris Eubank Jr faces a daunting rematch against Liam Smith at Anfield[/caption]
Liam Smith beat Chris Eubank Jr in round four[/caption]
Smith, 34, trapped his man in the corner and landed a barrage of shots which forced the shock fourth-round knockdown.
Eubank, 33, made it to his feet on unsteady legs but was again beaten to the deck.
It left the referee with no choice but to wave off the fight, beating trainer Roy Jones to it.
Eubank has a rematch clause in his contract should he wish to exercise it and could even do so behind enemy lines.
He said: “The better man won tonight. He caught me with a great shot.
“I thought I could have continued. The build-up got a bit ugly at the end and I regretted that, I respect Liam and his family, I always have.
“If the fans want to see a rematch then we can get it on at Anfield.”
Smith becomes the third man to beat Eubank, behind Billy Joe Saunders, 33, and George Groves, 34.
And critics can now add another name to the list of opponents the son of a legend stepped up against but lost to.
Mega-fights against Canelo Alvarez, 32, and Gennady Golovkin, 40, now look buried, until maybe redemption is earned in a rematch.
And Smith teased taking the sequel back home to Merseyside having come up in weight to beat Eubank.
He said: “If Chris wants the rematch we can do that on my terms.
“I agreed to the rematch clause beforehand so we can see, I can beat all the best fights at 160lbs and 154lbs.”
Liam Smith dropped Chris Eubank Jr twice[/caption]
Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith embrace after the fight[/caption]