No dummies spat out, no excuses. After being stopped in the 10th round by Chris Eubank Jr, Liam Smith was a picture of contrition, forced to concede he had been dismantled.
It said everything. There has been a bitter, nasty edge to this rivalry since their first fight in January, when Smith stopped Eubank in the fourth round.
Back in Manchester for Saturday’s rematch, there were ugly scenes in the stands as fans brawled and the post-fight press conference was halted as the middleweights’ camps exchanged insults.
Crucially, however, the contrast in the ring to January’s bout could not have been greater.
After gaining the revenge he craved, Eubank said: ‘I had to fight some demons — there were a lot of things to prove. People were saying I was shot, I don’t have it anymore, I’m too old, my chin and punch resistance is gone.
Chris Eubank Jr celebrates getting revenge on Liam Smith by beating him in their rematch
Eubank put in a dominant display and won with a tenth round stoppage to beat his bitter rival
‘I had to live with those things for six months, knowing they weren’t true. That was tough and this was my first rematch. But I enjoy new challenges and I rise to the occasion.’
Smith, by his own admission, was way below his best. Already hampered by a back injury, the 35-year-old rolled an ankle early on and was dropped in the fourth round as Eubank gradually took control and meted out considerable punishment.
The vanquished Liverpudlian, his faced covered in cuts and bruises, admitted: ‘I’ve done my ankle before in a fight, so don’t run with that one. It’s definitely not an excuse. It was more just being flat that killed me.
A third fight between the two boxers hasn’t been ruled out as the rivalry looks set to continue
‘Chris was sharper, right from the get-go. It’s 1-1 and doesn’t take a genius to see how I performed. But I’ll get over this.’
Promoter Kalle Sauerland hailed Eubank’s performance as the best of the 33-year-old’s career.
A lucrative fight with the disgraced Conor Benn cannot be discounted but Eubank may extend his rivalry with Smith.
Flanked by his new American trainer Brian McIntyre, Eubank added: ‘If the fans want to see a third fight, then you know me, I don’t back down from a challenge. But there are some big names out there.’