Chris Billam-Smith hits back at Ryan Rozicki’s ‘irrelevant’ warning after clash ahead of cruiserweight fight | Debate News
Chris Billam-Smith has hit back at Ryan Rozicki’s “unfair” claims that the Canadian could prevent a home victory in Saturday’s cruiserweight fight in Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports.
Billam-Smith returns to action for the first time since April 2025 when he faces Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Center (BIC), the venue where the former world champion previously retained his WBO cruiserweight title.
The pair went head-to-head in front of Bournemouth beach on Tuesday ahead of Zuffa Boxing’s UK debut, with big man Rozicki reiterating that he believes he can stop Billam-Smith for the first time.
In Saturday’s 10-round round of three rounds or less, Rozicki he told Sky Sports: “Hopefully short. I’m very confident.
“We will try not to cause too much damage as we are still going to have to face the challenge of putting him down. If it happens [go to points]I didn’t win.
“I don’t get a points decision here. We all know that, so it’s hit or miss.”
Billam-Smith himself dismissed Rozicki’s claim, he said Sky Sports: “I heard people say [they will inside three rounds] before – it is not important come to fight at night.
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Billam-Smith promises ‘explosives’ in his home battle with Rozicki
“I’ve trained for all the results in my favor. I’m ready for 10 rounds. We’ll see what happens after that, if he gets through the third.”
Billam-Smith added: “I’ve had a lot of people in the past who think the same way and believe absolutely the same thing – especially people who have come here to BIC.
“They thought they were going to come in here and do my number, so I can do what I always do here and be successful.”
‘Rozicki has been hurt!’
Billam-Smith held the WBO cruiserweight title between May 2023 and November 2024, when he lost to Gilberto Ramirez, the 35-year-old was determined to make a statement on Saturday as he looks to get back into challenging for world titles.
“In every fight that I go into, I want to do the best job of the person and the best job of anyone,” emphasized Billiam-Smith. “He [Rozicki] he was hurt in the past.
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Billam-Smith and Rozicki sit down with each other ahead of their Zuffa Boxing 7 fight
“The bell went off at the end of the first against Oscar Rivas and that might have saved him from getting hit and maybe a suspension if there was 30 seconds left, but it was.
“He went through it and mumbled, doing what he’s doing. I think I can do it inside [the distance].”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith take on Ryan Rozicki this Saturday live Sky Sports, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm. Get Sky Sports or broadcast boxing without a contract.
