LIAM SMITH was left with a horror cut after being beaten in ten rounds by Chris Eubank Jr.
The former light-middleweight champion in January became the first man to ever drop and stop Eubank.
Liam Smith was left with a horror cutRichard Pelham / The Sun
But Eubank, 33, returned the favour back in Manchester with a pair of knockdowns himself.
And he secured sweet revenge in round ten as the referee saved Smith, 35, from his own bravery.
Smith – known to cut badly – was left with a gruesome gash above his right eye but congratulated Eubank on his return victory.
He said: “Chris was the better man tonight. I shout when I win, I take my defeat when I lose.”
Smith had to pull out of their proposed June date with a back injury.
And he insisted the weight gained during his time on the sidelines left him with little fight on the big night.
Smith said: “I think everyone knows and Chris knows how I was with the weight, to say at the weigh in.
“After the injury I came down three stone and so a lot of weight to shifty in a short space of time.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“But that’s all I can put my finger on, I was flat, flat as they come from the get go I couldn’t move my feet and Chris was sharp early on so fair play to him.”
Eubank was fighting to save his career at the scene of his first KO loss but now he has roared back.
He said: “I had to beat Liam tonight. I threw so many punches, the lettering on my shorts fell off, it’s incredible.
“But listen, Liam is a warrior, I respect him, I respect his whole team and his family and his brothers.
“They always come out, they always put it on the line. He didn’t give up, he fought till the last second. So big up to Liam and his team.”
Smith was beaten in round tenRichard Pelham / The Sun
Eubank Jr silenced the doubtersRichard Pelham / The Sun