THE Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn press conference got underway at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the undercard making their way to the stage separately from the main event. The solid line-up took their places upon the stage alongside promoters Eddie Hearn and Ben Shalom.
First of the boxers onto the microphone was Chris Billam-Smith, who will be opening the show with his contest against Brandon Glanton. Reflecting on his recent defeat to Zurdo Ramirez, where he lost his world championship belt, Billam-Smith said: “I’ve got plenty to improve on, and it’s time for me to get back to winning ways. A victory here is a good opportunity for me to make a statement and get a shot at one of the champions.”
The American, Glanton, has been crystal clear in his distaste for Billam-Smith and at the press conference during an X-rated rant, he said: “He [Billam-Smith] knows what he did. When Okolie and Chris fought, he was very disrespectful, I was there helping prepare [Okolie] for it. I went to shake his hand to congratulate him, and he ignored me.”
Glanton added, “We’re men before we’re fighters, and he’s a father before he’s a fighter, so your son has a b**** [as] a father.”
The pair went on to share a war of words at the stare down, adding fuel to the fire in this battle. Both boxers enter the cruiserweight contest with identical records of 20-2.
British light-heavyweights, and familiar foes, Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur meet for the third time, with one win apiece. With the landscape of the light-heavyweight division looking so healthy with many exciting potential matchups to be made, both men will be looking to throw themselves into the mix with top names in this division like Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi.
“He won by split decision, and I was disappointed in myself so when the rematch got made, I need to show them what I am about,” Yarde said.
“How he acted after the first fight there was some arrogance [that I didn’t like] and that chip still hasn’t gone.”
The British Commonwealth title is on the line when Chev Clarke and Viddal Riley enter the squared circle. Entering the bout, coming off a split decision loss, Clarke hasn’t lost sight of his goals and ambitions in the sport. Clarke said: “Destiny changes every day, he’s in the way of me providing for my family and my family has got to eat. Me and Eddie have got plans.”
Meanwhile, Riley is just as confident that Clarke will be a much-needed stepping stone in his journey to the higher levels of boxing, as Ben Shalom said: “I really believe this is his coming out party.”
Riley believes in his ability and has no doubts that he will achieve his goals as he said, “There’s been many things on my journey that I’ve said I’d do long before I did them.”
Eddie Hearn was ever the salesman, backing his boxer, believing Clarke’s ability will be just that bit too much for Riley. “When I first met Viddal Riley, I thought he was leaning into YouTube boxing, but I think the pedigree and amateur level of Chev Clarke is going to be too good. I think it will be a good fight.”
Coming off the back of the loss to Eubank Jr back in 2023, Liam Smith enters the ring to face undefeated Aaron McKenna. Smith was preparing to face Josh Kelly last year, but had to pull himself from the fight due to injury at the last minute.
“I’ve had a tough 12 months, the loss, getting ill and then getting injured, but I am fit and healthy and look forward to it,” he said.
Aaron McKenna, 19-0, has his hands full with the calibre of Liam Smith, who has shared the ring on the world stage with the likes of Canelo Alvarez. McKenna is unfazed and is ready to prove doubters wrong. “I understand there’s a lot of people saying it’s too soon and too early and I am too young but Saturday night I am going to prove them wrong,” said the Irishman.
In response to McKenna’s confidence, Smith said: “I just think that, attitude-wise and style-wise, that he’s hungry, but I think he showed some kinks in his armour.”
McKenna towered over Smith at the face down as the pair shared an intense staredown in what should be a fantastic clash of styles as McKenna promised a fight in ‘the phone booth.’
Watch Eubank Jr vs Benn on Saturday 26th April live on DAZN, the global home of boxing with over 185+ fights per year.
