By Dan Ambrose: Carl Froch would like to see Liam Smith battle Gennadiy Golovkin next for his IBF & WBA middleweight belts to get a big payday before retiring from the sport after his magnificent destruction of Chris Eubank Jr last Saturday night in Manchester, England.

Froch says Smith (33-3-1, 20 KOs) “deserves” a fight against a “big name” after the way he toppled highly ranked #2 WBC, #2 WBO 160-lb contender Eubank Jr (32-3, 23 KOs) by a fourth round knockout at the AO Arena in Manchester last Saturday night.

Before he can get a shot at fighting Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs), Liam may need to fight Eubank Jr again because the 33-year-old fighter, who some feel has taken advantage of his famous father Chris Eubank, to make a lot of dough, without ever winning a world title or beating a big name during his twelve-year pro career, wisely had a rematch clause in the contract.

There’s nothing that we saw from Eubank Jr’s efforts last night not to assume that Smith can’t do the same thing to him in the rematch. Eubank Jr’s punch resistance isn’t the same at 160 as it was when he was campaigning at 168, and he doesn’t have the legs to move for twelve rounds to keep Liam from getting to his weak chin a second time.

The superstar Golovkin, who will turn 41 years old in April, is still a dangerous puncher despite his advancing age and slowing hand speed.

Smith will have a lot to deal with fighting Golovkin because, unlike Eubank Jr, he’ll be the one coming forward and will meet him like a ram inside the ring. You won’t see Golovkin on his bike like Eubank Jr was, looking frightened of Liam’s power.

“I think what he might be looking at now may be just getting some money in the bank at the end of his career,” said Carl Froch to Sky Sports about Liam Smith after his win over Chris Eubank Jr last Saturday night in Manchester, England.

“A [Gennadiy] Golovkin fight whether or not he’s still fighting, a big name, filling this place, what an amazing atmosphere it was.

“He [Liam Smith] deserves another big fight at least, and I don’t think it needs to be for a world title. I think it just needs to be a big name,” said Froch.