Welsh middleweight Liam Williams is reportedly out of his all-British showdown with Chris Eubank Jr on December 11 after picking up an injury in training, although there has been no official communication from the fighter or Sky Sports, as of yet. The pair came face-to-face for the very first time just two days ago for the official fight press conference in London but the bout is now thought to have been waved off in a cruel blow for boxing fans.
Promoter Kalle Sauerland had labeled the clash the biggest domestic fight of 2021 and the Motorpoint Arena was expected to be rocking in just under one month’s time.
Williams is coming off the back of an unsuccessful world title bid after he was beaten by WBO champion Demetrius Andrade earlier in the year in Miami.
But the 29-year-old, who was forced to undergo a surgery after the Andrade defeat, was not prepared to take an easy fight and instead wants to push himself at the highest level as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Joe Calzaghe and 10 other Welsh world champions.
Eubank had been looking to end the calendar year on a high following wins over Marcus Morrison and Wanik Awdijan but now he’s unlikely to face Williams until 2022.
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Williams has been forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.
There has been plenty of excitement around the middleweight matchup, which was due to be Sky Sports’ biggest pull since parting company with Matchroom Boxing.
Williams had been doing his best to get under Eubank’s skin before pushing the pace in the ring and the Englishman had clearly been aggravated by his opponent in the early build-up to the fight.
“Respect is definitely not a word I would use for my feelings towards Liam,” Eubank Jr said on Wednesday at the press conference.
“He has said a lot of reckless things online. It doesn’t sit well with me.
“This is a grudge match, a genuine domestic rivalry. It is personal. He has made it personal.
“He has come here today and tried to talk about respect? It has gone too far past that now.
“He will pay for what he has said. He will get embarrassed.”
It’s now unclear whether Eubank will still be on the card fighting an alternative opponent or if the bout will simply be rescheduled.