- Chris Eubank Jr has recorded 23 KO victories in his career
- Liam Smith has suffered three defeats
- Recommended bet: Eubank Jr to win by KO/TKO/DQ

Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith collide in Manchester on Saturday night in a potential thriller. 

Although there are no titles on the line, the contest at the AO Arena has a far higher standing than just a British-level grudge match. 

Eubank Jr looking past this fight

Eubank is a fighter deserving of another crack at a world title. 

The Hove man came up short when challenging George Groves for the WBA super-middleweight title in 2018. 

But Next Gen has since beaten former world champion and top-level operator James DeGale and tough performer Liam Williams.

Both the Groves and DeGale bouts were fought at super-middleweight. And while Eubank can operate in the 168lbs division, the Hove ace is perhaps a better boxer at middleweight.

Next Gen has also beaten the likes of Arthur Abraham and Avni Yildirim, while the two defeats on the 33-year-old's 34-fight card were both close reversals against world champions in Groves and Billy Joe Saunders.

Step too far for Smith?

Smith is a former British, Commonwealth and world light-middleweight champion.

The three defeats Beefy has suffered in a 36-fight career have come against the elite-level Canelo Alvarez, the brilliant and unbeaten Magomed Kurbanov and the undefeated Jaime Munguia.

He comes into this fight after two good victories Anthony Fowler and Jessie Vargas — but those stoppage victories were not without concern.

Smith is 34 and there were certainly signs of vulnerability to power in both of those wins.

It also has to be a concern that he is stepping up to middleweight against a fighter capable of campaigning at super-middleweight.

Stoppage on the cards

Eubank does not boast huge one-punch power but he does have a high output. He throws aggressive combinations and his strength and size could be more prevalent at 160lbs.

Neither he or Smith is a back-foot fighter and it should be an all-action and aggressive contest. If this fight develops into a war, that should suit Eubank as the bigger and physically stronger man.

Smith does not have the speed to stay out of his domestic rival's way at this stage of his career and it could be  this fight is more likely to end before the final bell than the prices suggest.

Eubank will want another world title shot this year and he should keep those hopes alive with victory in Manchester.

With a KO/TKO/DQ available at 9/4 with LiveScore Bet, it could pay to back a Eubank victory.