By Barry Holbrook: Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. says he’s going to “Punish” Liam Williams this Saturday night, February 5th, when the two meet up at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. The fight card will be shown on Sky Sports. It’s also going to be shown on FITE PPV. Also on the card is Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin.
There’s a lot of bad blood between Eubank Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs) and the former middleweight world title challenger Williams (23-3-1, 18KOs).
Williams, 29, has said enough stuff to get Eubank Jr. properly riled, so now he wants to punish him slowly to prolong the pain & suffering he feels this Saturday night.
A failure to launch for Eubank Jr
Being the son of the famous Chris Eubank Sr has been tough on Eubnk Jr, as a lot of boxing fans have had high expectations. However, Eubank Jr. hasn’t enjoyed the same success that his father did during his career.
Chris Sr. won his first world title at the age of 24 and was finished as an elite-level fighter by the time he was 31. In contrast, Eubank Jr. still has yet to win his first world title and he’s now 32.
For some reason, Eubank Jr. hasn’t been able to capitalize on his talent. Eubank Jr. has had a difficult time bouncing back from his losses to Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.
Eubank Jr. vs. Williams is an excellent fight involving two fighters whose careers have been progressing slowly despite loads of talent. The 32-year-old Eubank Jr. hasn’t yet won a world after being pegged as a can’t miss future star eight years ago.
Eubank Jr’s loss to George Groves in 2018 was a devastating setback for his career, resulting in him needing to rebuild for the last four years with new trainer Roy Jones Jr.
Chris Jr. has won his last five fights, albeit against lesser opposition. Williams is a step up for the 32-year-old Eubank Jr. from the guys he’d been fighting in his last five contests.
Chris Eubank Jr’s recent wins:
- Wanik Awdijan
- Marcus Morrison
- Matt Korobov
- James DeGale
- JJ McDonagh
Eubank Jr. didn’t look impressive recently in beating Marcus Morrison by a 10 round unanimous decision last May. Morrison gave Eubank problems with his power in that fight.
As for Williams, he lost his last fight to WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision in April 2021. Williams came on late and hurt Andrade, but he couldn’t finish the job.
Eubank Jr. wants to punish Williams
This desire to “punish” Williams slowly over the course of the fight might not be a good idea for Eubank Jr because this isn’t a guy that you want to leave around.
Williams hits too hard for Eubank Jr. to let him survive if he gets him hurt in the early rounds.
If Eubank Jr. can stun Williams, he should flurry on him to get the knockout because he’ll be a threat all the way to the final bell.
“Leading up to this fight, it’s been personal, and that’s going to be his downfall because now it’s not that I want to win, I want to punish on the 5th,” said Chris Eubank Jr. to iFL TV on his fight this Saturday against Liam Williams.
“When I get in the ring, I’m going to punish him,” Eubank Jr. continued. “He’s embarrassed himself enough. I don’t think I need to embarrass him. I just need to let him know and show him what it is. Who I really am and who he really is.
“He may think he’s this big, bad boogeyman, but he really isn’t. He talks a good game, but when it actually comes down to it, I think he’s going to fold,” said Eubank Jr.
Williams isn’t the boogeyman, but he does have excellent power and a good chin. He reminds me of a middleweight version of Joe Smith Jr. Liam hits hard like Smith Jr, but he’s not a great boxer.
Liam Williams is “garbage,” says Chris Jr
“Garbage,” said Eubank Jr. when asked what his assessment is of Liam Williams. “Absolutely, what do you mean, ‘Really’? He’s going to get hit with every shot in the book, and he’s going to get beaten up and down the ring for as many rounds as I want it to go, and then he’s getting put to sleep.
“I don’t pick rounds, but it’ll end when I want it to end. I’m going to have fun and enjoy myself, and then I’m going to end the fight when I see fit.
“How do I feel about it? I’m happy to go into somebody’s backyard,” said Eubank Jr. on fighting in Liam Williams’ backyard in Cardiff. “I’ve been the bad guy many times in my career, and it’s actually served me well.
“I feed off the energy. If it’s good energy, I feed off of it. If it’s bad energy, I feed off of it just the same. So if it’s a hostile crowd and it’s people booing me and wanting me to lose, I’m going to use that energy to help myself fight harder and better. So I’m just looking forward to it.
“10 years as a pro, and I’m still learning. Roy is a master and a genius as well as a legend. He’s a legendary coach, in my opinion,” said Eubank Jr. on his trainer Roy Jones Jr.
“The great thing about Roy is he’s able to articulate what he knows. A lot of great fighters don’t know how to be great trainers. They know what to do themselves, but they don’t know how to tell and teach other people how to do it.
“Roy is able to articulate things very well. So I’ve learned a lot from him over the last couple of years.
“If he thinks hiring Adam Booth is going to help him and affect the outcome of the fight, then he’s sadly mistaken,” said Eubank Jr. on Williams hiring his old coach Booth as his trainer.
“Nothing at all, zero,” said Eubank Jr. when asked what Booth can add to Williams’game in the short period of time he’s been working with him,” said Eubank Jr.
Williams isn’t a great fighter, but he’ll be dangerous for Eubank Jr. in the second half of the contest if he’s still around.
