Chris Billam-Smith is on a revenge mission when he fights Cheavon Clarke on November 7.
Billam-Smith takes on his old amateur rival Clarke at the Copper Box Arena. Sky Sports.
Billam-Smith fought a thrilling war with Ryan Rozicki and Clarke coming back from the canvas twice to get Jack Massey off the same Bournemouth score, both men coming off impressive wins.
But Billam-Smith has a 10-year-old account to agree with Clarke.
Billam-Smith, from Bournemouth, lost to Clarke in the final of the national elite amateur championship in 2016 and is still ranked.
It was a compliment that Billam-Smith spent his entire amateur career trying to win.
Billam-Smith, “It was pretty disappointing to have it taken away from me, I was confident I was going to win it that year.” Sky Sports.
“It’s still a tough ABA title from me,” continued Billam-Smith. “He nodded, well, I won’t cry, I’ll just make it up on November 7th.”
They boxed twice, with Clark defeating him in a British title belt series. “I’m very bitter, I have to release it on November 7!” Billam-Smith smiled.
They went their separate ways. Clarke qualified for GB and became an Olympian, while Billam-Smith turned professional and won a world title.
Bournemouth is also used to taking revenge for defeat. He enjoyed beating former winner Richard Riakporhe in a rematch in 2024 and now wants to do the same against Clarke.
“You don’t know the amateur boxer I’m compared to the professional boxer, so it’s very, very different and my goal will be a different result,” Billam-Smith said.
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Chev Clarke bounced back from being dropped twice in the fourth round as he went on to stop Jack Massey in the seventh round of the cruiserweight classic.
However, Clarke showed just how much of a threat he can be in his last fight as he came back to finish off Massey.
“It makes him more dangerous. Come back to get knocked down twice in one round. He’s still carrying his power, he’s fast, he’s getting power in all his throws,” Billam-Smith reflected.
“Cheavon is not as intense as Rozick – I’m not sure anyone is – in terms of fighting style. But he carries more speed and that makes him more of a threat.
Billam-Smith concluded: “He puts his shots together well, which makes him a definite threat.”
“I’ve sparred with him, too. He’s no trophy. He knows what he’s doing out there, he’s always super fit. He’s been hurt in the past, he comes back, he looks the part. He’s never been stopped, he might have been down, but he’s never been stopped.
“It’s a tough night’s work, I have to be 100 percent for it.”
Watch Billam-Smith vs Clarke live on Saturday 7 November Sky Sports. Tickets for ZUFFA BOXING 12 are available now through Ticketmaster.