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Eubank Jr vs Benn: Undercard fighter fuming at lack of respect shown
Brandon Glanton has accused Chris Billam-Smith of showing him a lack of respect and has promised to make him pay for that on Saturday night.
The cruiserweight rivals will open The Ring Magazine's Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves fight card at London's Tottenham Hotspur stadium, live on DAZN PPV.
While all eyes in the build-up have been on the headline bout of family enemies Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, this opening fight could prove to be the most explosive, with bad blood flowing between the two.
The tension goes back to 2023 when the Englishman, 20-2 (13 KO's), first become a world champion when he defeated Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality Stadium to take the IBO world cruiserweight crown.
Glanton, 20-2 (17 KO's), who had hoped to fight Okolie himself, was there on fight week, instead acting as a sparring partner for the then champion.
He was upset at Billam-Smith's behaviour in the build-up.
"It was on the media workout day, Chris was walking towards the back of the centre. I extended my hand to shake his and he just went by," explained the American.
"Maybe he knew I was team Okolie, having helped him, but unfortunately Chris ignored me when I extended my hand and walked by.
"I did not appreciate that. Somewhere inside that hurt my feeling a little bit. Not from an emotional way, but from a respect way.
"I'm big on respect and with us both being fighters, at the same weight, I expected more.
For his part, Billam-Smith has no memory of the incident, saying: "I have no recollection at all of him ever offering me a handshake or seeing him before yesterday.
"What I will do is once I've beaten him, I'll shake his hand, if he'll accept it, who knows after how much it hurt him."
The Brit comes into this one having lost his title to Gilberto Ramirez by unanimous decision in November and knows he cannot afford a third career loss so quickly after the last.
Whether he really does remember the 2023 snub or not is irrelevant, as Glanton is clearly using the incident as fuel and motivation to pull off what would be the biggest win of the 33-year-old's career.
"I have the upmost respect for what Chris has done in his career and how he fights. He comes to fight every time.
"But I have no respect for his character or him as a person.
"Don't blink Chris. Embrace your wife, embrace your children, because this is your last run. I'll put you in time out.
"I'm going to pray for you before and after the fight. But between those bells, what happens is between you and God."
Watch three incredible fight nights in one week only on DAZN
Fight fans are in for a treat at the end of April / start of May, with three amazing fight cards within seven days - and DAZN PPV is the only place to watch them all.
- April 26: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
- May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
- May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
Arch rivals Eubank Jr and Benn finally go head-to-head to start the exhilarating week, with PPV prices at £19.95 in the UK; $24.99 in the US; €24.99 in Europe.
Garcia vs. Romero and Canelo vs. Scull fight nights follow, which will both be exclusively on DAZN.
Fight fans can purchase either fight individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; ROW - $24.99 per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fights can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 in the UK and €34.99 in Europe .
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