Former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew is backing Liam Smith to come out victorious in his rematch with Chris Eubank Jr. 

Back in January, Smith pulled off a dramatic upset when he knocked out Eubank in four rounds.

Eubank exercised his immediate rematch clause - with the pair set to collide later tonight in Manchester.

While Bellew is picking Smith to come away with another win, he expects the second encounter to go the full twelve round distance.

“I just think it will be a repeat of the first match but I don’t think he’ll knock him out this time. Liam’s from a fighting family, one of four and all of them have been fantastic fighters. They’ve done our city proud," Bellew told Betting Sites.

“I think Liam’s too clever, too strong and a better boxer. Liam has a better pedigree and is just a better all round boxer. He’s had to earn everything. He’s done it the hard way.

“Chris Eubank Jr has never been rated. Well I shouldn’t say never been rated, he’s never been a good boxer. Liam’s a former ABA champion and former world champion, British champion. He’s ticked all these boxes and nothing has been given to him, he’s had to earn everything. The fact is Chris Eubank Jr is just not as good as Liam Smith and he never will be.”

In the first bout, Eubank was trained by former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr.

For the rematch, Eubank retained the services of Brian 'Bomac' McIntyre, who is best known for his work with undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

“He’s being trained by Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre for this fight and he also trains Terence Crawford but unfortunately you’re not Terence Crawford. You can’t do what he can do. Terence Crawford is the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the whole world. By employing BoMac you’re not just going to magically turn into the best fighter in the world," Bellew said.