Chris Billam-Smith is preparing for a reckoning when he steps into the ring with Cheavon Clarke on November 7, carrying a decade of unfinished business from their amateur days.
The Bournemouth fighter faces Clarke, a former amateur rival, at the Copper Box Arena in London, with the bout headlining Zuffa Boxing 12 and broadcast live on Sky Sports. According to Yardbarker, the main event is scheduled as a 10-round cruiserweight contest, with Billam-Smith holding a record of 22-2 (14 KOs) and Clarke standing at 12-2 (9 KOs).
Both competitors arrive at the showdown on the back of impressive recent performances. Billam-Smith survived a gruelling encounter against Ryan Rozicki, while Clarke demonstrated his resilience by rising from the canvas twice in a single round before ultimately defeating Jack Massey. Both victories came on the same Bournemouth bill.
Yet the professional success masks a personal grievance that has festered for ten years. In 2016, Clarke defeated Billam-Smith in the final of the national elite amateur championships, a result that continues to sting the Bournemouth man.
To take that away from me it was pretty gutting, I was certain I was going to win it that year,Billam-Smith told Sky Sports. That championship represented the culmination of his entire amateur career ambitions.
It's still that elusive ABA title which he took from me. He got the nod, deservedly so, I'm not going to cry about, I'm just going to put it right on November 7.
The rivalry between the two men runs deeper than a single defeat. According to Liga Olahraga, Clarke beat Billam-Smith twice in 2016, with the second victory coming in the English Title Series final at York Hall. That second loss only intensified the desire for revenge.
I've got a lot of bitterness inside me which I need to unleash on November 7!Billam-Smith declared with a grin, making clear the emotional weight he carries into this contest.
The two men's careers have followed starkly different trajectories since their amateur encounters. Clarke earned selection for the GB squad and competed as an Olympian, while Billam-Smith turned professional and ascended to world title status. Yet the professional boxer believes he has evolved far beyond the amateur version Clarke once defeated.
You wouldn't recognise the amateur boxer I was compared to the pro boxer I am so it's very, very different and that's what I'll be aiming for, a different outcome,Billam-Smith stated.
Billam-Smith has already demonstrated his capacity to settle old scores. He relished the opportunity to avenge his loss to Richard Riakporhe in their 2024 rematch, and he approaches the Clarke fight with similar determination to rewrite history.
Clarke poses a genuine threat
Despite his hunger for revenge, Billam-Smith refuses to underestimate his opponent. Clarke's recent performance against Massey showcased precisely why he remains dangerous. Being knocked down twice in a single round and still finding the composure and power to finish the fight demonstrated remarkable character and technical ability.
That makes him more dangerous. To get put down twice in one round, come back. He still carries his power, is fast, got power in all his shots,Billam-Smith reflected on Clarke's capabilities.
While Clarke may not possess the relentless intensity that defined Rozicki's fighting style, he compensates with superior hand speed and combination work.
Cheavon isn't as intense as Rozicki - I'm not sure that anyone is - in terms of the way he fights. But he carries much more speed, which adds more danger.
He puts his shots together well, so that makes him threatening for sure,Billam-Smith continued.
Billam-Smith's familiarity with Clarke extends beyond their amateur history. The two have sparred together, giving Billam-Smith direct insight into Clarke's capabilities and mindset.
I've sparred him as well. He's no mug. He knows what he's doing in there, he's always super-fit. He's been hurt in the past, he comes back, looks the part. Never been stopped, he might have been dropped but never been stopped.
It's a hard night's work, I've got to be 100 percent for it.
The undercard and broadcast details
The Zuffa Boxing 12 event on November 7 will feature additional compelling action. According to Sky Sports, middleweight Denzel Bentley has signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing and is scheduled to face Shane Mosley Jr on the undercard at the Copper Box Arena.
The event will air live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and on Paramount+ in the United States. Tickets for the show are available through Ticketmaster.
