Summary

  • Liam Smith beats British rival Chris Eubank Jr with stunning fourth-round stoppage

  • Smith floors Eubank Jr twice before referee ends middleweight contest at Manchester Arena

  • Duo embrace after fight having traded nasty comments during week

  • "He's got a great chin but I said all week he can't handle me," says Smith

  • "If the fans want to see a rematch, we can get it on at Anfield," says Eubank

  • Eubank had been unbeaten since 2018 and had never been stopped before

  • Unbeaten cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe stops Poland's Krzysztof Glowacki in fourth round

  • Ekow Essuman and Joseph Parker also win undercard fights

  1. Postpublished at 21:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    Let's hear more from Chris Eubank Jr now as he takes on BBC Sport's 12 rounds of questioning...

    Media caption,

    Chris Eubank Jr v Liam Smith: Listening to Drake, following UFC and a life motto

  2. Stepping our of his father's shadowpublished at 21:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    Coral Barry
    BBC Sport combat sports editor

    When Chris Eubank Jr made his debut as a professional boxer in 2011, he attracted huge interest.

    But much - if not all - of it was not because the 21-year-old was a promising young prospect or an emerging talent; it was because he was the son of one of Britain's greatest boxers.

    Two-weight world champion Chris Eubank accompanied his son to the ring that night in Manchester, and watched him cruise to an early stoppage victory.

    'Junior', as he was often known back then, let his father do much of the talking. He was a serious young man, distrustful of the media and acutely aware of the scorn he attracted.

    Read more here.

    Eubank JrImage source, Getty Images
  3. Two sides to every story...published at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    Watch as Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith go head-to-head in a battle of words, recalling the contradictory stories of their memories of training together seven years ago.

    Are you not entertained..?

    Media caption,

    'He's fame hungry!' - Eubank Jr & Smith take swipes ahead of clash

  4. Parker 'ready to go again'published at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Parker beats Massey by unanimous decision

    Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker tells Radio 5 Sports Extra: "It was OK. It was difficult to chase someone around but it was good to get 10 rounds under my belt. I still felt fresh after it was finished.

    "He came prepared and confident. We knew he was going to put on a tough fight.

    "Hopefully, we can lock another fight as soon as possible.

    "I'm ready to go again in March, April or May."

    Joseph ParkerImage source, Getty Images
  5. Disappointing from Parkerpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Coral Barry
    BBC Sport boxing reporter at AO Arena

    Joseph Parker struggled to get going there against Jack Massey.

    On paper, the fight was a complete mismatch with former world champion Parker up against cruiserweight Massey.

    But Massey held his own through the fight (literally at times) and takes Parker the distance.

    A missed opportunity for Parker to make a statement, rebuild some of his confidence following a gruelling encounter with Joe Joyce last year.

  6. Ringside watchpublished at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Coral Barry
    BBC Sport boxing reporter at AO Arena

    WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was just at ringside to watch his pal and training partner Joseph Parker in action.

    Fury is currently in talks to fight Oleksandr Usyk in undisputed heavyweight contest, but has called out former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou while doing the media rounds.

    Scotland's Josh Taylor is also wandering around and he had a scuffle with Jack Catterall not long ago. Security had to step in. Their rematch has been postponed due to an injury to Taylor.

    It's all happening tonight!

    Tyson Fury ringside to watch training partner Joseph ParkerImage source, PA Media
  7. 'Boxing went across the line'published at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing expert

    It was about the lowest and the most out-of-control [press] conference I've ever been at - it shocked me.

    Boxing went across that line.

  8. Postpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    Back to our build-up ahead of the main event now...

  9. Parker winspublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023
    Breaking

    Joseph Parker beats Jack Massey by unanimous decision...

    The former world champion claims victory on his return to the ring after his knockout defeat by Joe Joyce.

    It was far from champagne boxing from the New Zealander but he gets over the line fairly comfortably.

  10. Expect plenty of needlepublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    It's safe to say there is no love lost between these two fighters.

    There were ugly scenes at the news conference on Thursday as the boxing year began on a sour note.

    Eubank, 33, was the subject of taunts about his sexuality from Smith for much of the event and responded by taunting his opponent about his city of birth, Liverpool, and smearing his marriage.

    Expect plenty of needle tonight...

    Media caption,

    Eubank Jr and Smith both weigh in at 11 stone 5 pounds.

  11. The moment we've all been waiting forpublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2023

    Eubank Jr v Smith

    It's time for the words to stop...

    Eubank Jr v SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Two of Britain's best are set to face off in Manchester after a turbulent week of build-up.

    It's Brighton's Chris Eubank Jr against Liverpool's Liam Smith and it's about to get heated!

    Stay tuned for live text commentary...