Chris Eubank Jr eyes world stage after points win over Liam Williams

Chris Eubank Jr moved closer to a meaningful fight on the world stage when he knocked down Liam Williams four times on his way to a wide and decisive victory on points in their middleweight bout over 12 rounds in Cardiff on Saturday night. Despite a fervent crowd’s vociferous support for Williams, who grew up in the Rhondda Valley, just over 20 miles from Cardiff, Eubank’s sharp left hand quelled the animosity.

Williams came out fast, looking to back up Eubank as booming chants of “Liam, Liam, Liam” echoed around the heaving arena. The Welshman looked confident, even smirking at his reviled opponent before, in Eubank’s corner near the end of round one, he walked straight into a sharp straight left hand. Williams was knocked down, looking as surprised as he was hurt.

The pattern of the fight had been set and in round two Williams went down again after he was tagged by a Eubank jab, right cross and a left hook. Roy Jones Jr, the great former world champion who now trains Eubank, urged his fighter to “take your time” and stay patient. Eubank listened and cruised through the third, only drawing the ire of the referee after he tagged Williams once the bell rang. A more legitimate punch, another straight left, sent Williams back to the familiar territory of the canvas for another count of eight in round four.

Those three knockdowns should have sealed a conclusive end but Williams has immense grit and courage and he refused to buckle. He was helped by the fact that, through the middle rounds, Eubank spent more time taunting Williams and the crowd rather than concentrating on the basics which had allowed him to dominate the fight until then. Williams kept coming forward and he was encouraged further by Eubank’s wasteful