Liam Smith believes that Conor Benn’s team is looking too much into his victory over Chris Eubank Jnr.

Smith faced Eubank back in 2023 and became the first man to stop him, doing so in four rounds. Smith has never been considered a huge puncher during his career at junior middleweight, so it was a big shock when he dropped and stopped Eubank in his first contest at middleweight.

Benn will also be stepping up in weight from 154lbs to face Eubank, on Saturday at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Conor Benn’s father, Nigel Benn, was vocal during both launch press conferences for Saturday’s fight, noting that his son punches much harder than Smith and that Eubank will be stopped inside the distance.

Conor Benn was regarded as a heavy hitter during his contests at welterweight, but in his two contests at 154lbs he has yet to drop or stop an opponent.

“I still think … obviously Conor's had two fights at 154, and yeah, they fully are taking a lot from my fight with him – that's why the fight's at 160, not 157 again,” Smith told BoxingScene. “I know they still put a rehydration clause in, but, look, it'd be interesting to see. Obviously Chris is getting older, Chris has been knocked out now, so they will fancy their chances and there's chinks in the armor now, where there wasn't before then. So, yeah, they'll fancy it.

“I've seen a lot. … They keep loving to mention, ‘Conor punches harder than me.’ I don't know where they’re getting that from. He's had two fights at 154, hasn't budged anyone, hasn't dropped anyone. He seemed to punch a lot harder at 147 when he was coming through, when the stink was involved around his drug situation. Conor Benn doesn't punch harder than me – at 154, certainly not.

“I don't know what his dad [Nigel Benn] keeps banging on about,” Smith continued. “Because his dad mentioned me 16 times in two press conferences, ‘Conor punches harder than Liam Smith.’ So if that's what they're going off, then great. But, you know, the change, it's been, ‘[It’s over in] four rounds,’ one minute, then three rounds, two rounds, now it's six. So, look, I'm interested to see how it goes, to be honest with you, because I am struggling to pick a winner. I'd pick Chris on points, but I wouldn't be surprised at any outcome.”