Chris Eubank Jr.'s world-class performance brought smiles back to the faces of the fans — and his father.

Chris Eubank Jr and his team smiled after his victory over Liam Smith in Manchester on Saturday. Credit: PA/Peter Byrne

Chris Eubank Jr has proven to be a great salesman when it came to promoting his fights, but a one-sided beating of his nemesis Liam Smith in a sold-out pandemonium at the Manchester Arena on Saturday was arguably the standout performance and moment . career of a 33-year-old player.

Coming back from adversity and given the situation — against the man who shockingly stopped him eight months ago — it was real content, not style. And how Eubank needed it. Arrogance, prone to boastfulness, follows him like a shadow. For several months, Eubank asked himself questions. By opposing Smith, he answered all these doubts. En masse. Perhaps it was both a blessing and a curse that Junior goes by the name «Eubank», synonymous with exciting nights in the British ring, epic fights and statements involving his father, Chris Eubank Sr., the only man both in and out of the ring. . , as well as a unique and now beloved character.

What's more, how much Eubank Jr. does in the ring to prove something to his father, who, as he revealed last week, dropped him off at a private school in Brighton on a school run driving a very large truck, wearing sweatpants and sportswear . monocle. Eubank Jr. has already had box office success, over 30 fights, he has independent wealth and doesn't need to put himself in danger in the ring.

But still, as he told Telegraph Sport on Saturday night: «My life is boxing.

Eubank pulled off this world class fight and it's no wonder he called out Gennady Golovkin, the modern middleweight great and fighter the Brit has long pursued, along with Kell Brook and Conor Benn. After that, Eubank braced itself for new box office contests. Yet the world title still eludes him. Who knows, Eubank in this uniform might even have attracted the attention of Saul «Canelo» Alvarez.

nights and adversaries will satisfy cravings and addictions built into his DNA.

On Saturday night, Eubank brought fans back decisively because he faced a potential career ruin if Smith lost to him again. From capturing and nullifying a Liverpoolr early in the fight, knocking Smith down in the fourth round with a superb right-handed uppercut, and dominating his opponent until the referee graciously stopped the fight in the 10th round, Eubank could smile with joy – and relief – at the result.

By round 10, Smith, with shaky legs and massive punishment, had already lost strength. Indeed, the end could have come sooner, but his corner team knew how resilient and tenacious the 35-year-old former world champion could be. But Eubank, who later admitted that he had to «conquer the demons» after Smith stopped him in the fourth round in their first meeting in January — his first career loss by stoppage — was too good that evening.

As for Smith, who brushed aside questions that he injured his ankle early in the fight, he said it was he had dropped to 160 pounds and lost 40 pounds at camp after a back injury that took a real toll before the competition. In truth, Smith, a proud and valiant man, took nothing away from the victorious Eubank, simply insisting that it was obvious that he was «flat» in this outing. Who knows, maybe after the dust settles (and if Smith wants to dance again) there might even be talk of a trilogy, but this evening will be remembered as Eubank regained – and solidified – his credibility.

In January, everything was lost. Now Eubank Jr. is back for revenge, and somewhere Eubank Sr. is smiling, beaming like a suspect and proud of his victorious son.