LIAM ‘BEEFY’ SMITH is a Matchroom fighter once again.
The 36-year-old was announced tonight (January 22) as having rejoined Eddie Hearn’s team with a ‘major fight to be announced in due course.’
Smith, 33-4-1 (20 KOs), has been linked to a fight against unbeaten middleweight Aaron McKenna, 19-0 (10 KOs), which could form part of the Chris Eubank Jr-Conor Benn card scheduled to take place in April. At this stage, however, Smith-McKenna is merely speculation.
In 2019 Liverpool’s Smith signed for Matchroom having already held the WBO super welterweight title and shared the ring with Mexican stars Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, albeit in defeat.
During his first stint with Matchroom Smith earned wins against Sam Eggington, Anthony Fowler and Jessie Vargas. And on a non-Matchroom card he was extremely unlucky to lose to Magomed Kurbanov in May 2021 in Russia.
Three months after the win over Vargas at Madison Square Garden the Scouser signed for Boxxer winning two from three against Hassan Mwakinyo and Chris Eubank Jr, the defeat from the three came in a rematch against Eubank 14 months ago.
“I’m delighted to be back working with Eddie [Hearn] and Frank Smith,” Smith said in a press release.
“I have always had a great relationship with Matchroom, where they’ve promoted my brothers and, of course, myself a few years back. It’s great to re-sign with them and now we’re looking forward to some huge fights together in 2025.”
Having already beaten Eubank and been linked to a fight against Benn in the past Smith will be an interested spectator when their grudge match goes ahead in the next few months.
“Obviously, I will be keeping a very close eye on the big fight coming up in my division with Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn,” Smith said.
“But generally speaking I’m very excited about what the future holds for me, especially with Eddie so closely involved with the Riyadh Season shows and some of the biggest events in the sport.
“I’m buzzing to be working with Eddie and Frank again. This is a big year and I can’t wait to get going with Matchroom.”
