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Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith are facing an investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBofC) for their embarrassing “personal” and “homophobic” comments at their pre-fight press conference.
Eubank Jr, the 33-year-old son of world champion Chris Eubank Sr, is set to fight Liverpudlian in Manchester on Saturday night.
But the wrestlers clashed in the buildup, with Smith suggesting that Eubank Jr was ‘gay’, before he in turn made accusations that Smith had been unfaithful to his girlfriend.
Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Liam Smith (right) launched into an ugly argument at Thursday’s press conference.
On Friday morning, the BBofC released a statement signed by General Secretary Robert W. Smith, announcing that they were aware of the comments made and would investigate them.
‘The British Boxing Board of Control is aware of the comments made by Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jnr. at yesterday’s press conference, and the Board Stewards will directly consider the conduct of both boxers,’ he said.
When the boxers met again for the weigh-in on Friday afternoon, Eubank Jr emerged wearing a Manchester United shirt with a rainbow captain’s armband in a move likely to make any Liverpool Smith fan mad.
On Friday morning, the BBofC issued a statement announcing that they would investigate the comments made.
The insults stemmed from the pair’s appearance on ‘Gloves Are Off’, a Sky Sports pre-fight promo staple that involves two fighters sitting across from each other for a chat with former world champion Johnny Nelson.
In fact, their episode last month had to be cut short, and carefully edited, after Eubank and Smith shot each other’s families.
But the British boxers clashed again on Thursday, with Eubank Jr pummeling Smith and saying: ‘If you want to get dark and personal, talk about being gay and do I like girls? Various sources have told me that you sometimes cheat on your wife.
After the fight, Sky Sports presenter Anna Woolhouse was forced to apologize for the “offensive” and “homophobic” language used throughout, while co-host Andy Clarke described what was heard as “personal” and “homophobic”.
Sky Sports also removed the broadcast event from its Sky Sports Boxing YouTube channel.
Eubank Jr then took to social media, saying: “Well, that escalated quickly.”
The dispute sparked after comments made by Eubank Jr earlier this week in which he revealed that the 34-year-old Smith has been direct messaging him on Instagram ahead of the fight.
Eubank Jr referenced those messages in Thursday’s press conference, saying: ‘You slipped into my DMs. I’m used to seeing girls in my DMs, I’m not used to seeing boys’.
Smith started the discussion by asking if Eubank Jr had anything to say, stating that “no one in this room has ever seen you with a woman.”
Eubank Jr insisted that his private life is irrelevant to boxing, but later accused Smith of cheating on his wife.
Smith, responding to accusations of cheating on his partner (left), declared: “You don’t have a lady to cheat on.”
Smith, a former super welterweight world champion, then responded: ‘Chris, you talk about girls, mate, has anyone in this room ever seen you with a girl?
‘Got something to say to us? Because you are 33 years old. Do you want to tell us something? Because no one in this room has ever seen you with a woman.
Eubank Jr sought to revert the conversation to the task at hand, insisting that personal matters should not be questioned publicly.
“Listen, my private life is my private life,” Eubank Jr. responded. “That’s irrelevant to boxing, but I’m happy, I’m comfortable.”
Eubank Jr, following another prompt from Smith, who again asked: ‘Do you have anything you want to tell us?’ he continued: ‘It’s a very personal question to ask myself directly. You can swipe my DMs or you can do it right now.
Smith then responded: ‘I’m not that type, man, I like women.’
Later in the press conference, Eubank Jr returned to the previous argument, this time accusing his impending opponent of cheating on his wife “on occasion”.
He said: ‘If you want to get dark and personal with it, talking about being gay and do I like girls? Various sources have told me that you sometimes cheat on your wife.
‘So the glass houses mate. Let’s relax on the personal stuff. I’d rather be gay than a cheater.
This was met with a response of: ‘You don’t have a lady to fool’.
Eubank Jr steps into the ring for the first time since his February 2022 victory over Liam Williams, with his October fight against Conor Benn called off after the latter failed two drug tests in preparation for the fight.
Smith, meanwhile, last beat Hassan Mwakinyo in September of last year.