THERE’S been a lot of noise in the build-up to the first major domestic fight of 2023. Most of it out of the mouth of Chris Eubank Jr, as you might expect.

But only one comment rings true to me ahead of his showdown with Liam Smith, “the public are in for something special.”

Two of the most famous family names in British boxing collide at Manchester Arena, but only one can emerge with bragging rights and future world title ambitions intact.

EXPERIENCE COUNTS

After spending time together during lockdown, boxing icon Roy Jones Jr has evolved Eubank (32-2) into more of a boxer. Patient and more accurate, technically it’s clear he’s improved.

But the workrate; the tempo; the pressure that he would use to overwhelm foes appears to have dropped off, as witnessed in his lacklustre decision over Liam Williams in Cardiff last year.

Eubank is evolving. But has he left it too late in the game – aged 33 and 34 fights in – to attempt such fundamental changes?

Smith’s approach is far more predictable. A real throwback fighter: anyone, anywhere, anytime has been his mantra since day one and it’s taken him to the very pinnacle of the sport in his 32-3-1 run.

A front foot boxer-fighter, he loves to go to the body early and set a hot pace. He throws bunches of punches and is in his element when the going gets tough. But he also steps up to middleweight here for the first time.

His 11st world title reign in 2015-2016 featured three straight knockouts. But he lost his belt via body shots to pay-per-view leader Canelo Alvarez in front of 50,000+ vociferous Mexicans in Texas.

Smith rebuilt with back-to-back wins over Williams. But suffered a second setback challenging for his old world title in Las Vegas against unbeaten Jaime Munguia in 2018.

MOMENTUM MATTERS

Now 34, ‘Beefy’ is trained by cousins Joe McNally and Declan O’Rourke, former amateur teammates of the Smith brothers, who may be the new kids on the block in British boxing, but are building an exciting stable in their native Liverpool.

Eubank is naturally the bigger man, having had his best moments up at super-middleweight (168lb) with wins over former world champions Arthur Abraham and James Degale.

His two losses came early in his career to Billy Joe Saunders and in a world title fight with George Groves in 2018. But Eubank has come a long way since, including a revitalised relationship with the boxing public following last year’s fiasco around the ill-fated Conor Benn fight.

Expect Eubank to start behind the jab, countering off the back foot with Smith looking to work his way inside and land combinations. It’s going to be exciting from the opening bell.

But there is only so long Junior will dance and there is only so long Smith can be allowed to stalk. Eventually, both will tire and revert to type and that’s when the fight truly begins.

Two great chins. Two volume punchers. Two proper fighting men. It all equates to 12 rounds of menace and mayhem.

Small margins, inches, will decide the victor. Single shots could swing rounds that have a gargantuan impact on the cards.

Brace yourself Manchester: Boxing is back!

TIP: Smith on Points (19/5)