# Chris Billam-Smith Seeks Redemption Against Cheavon Clarke A decade after their amateur defeat, Billam-Smith faces Clarke in London ring. - **Source:** [BBC Sport – Boxing](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d32382ce-5b74-40d6-aedb-b9cecbd92ac7 ## Decade Long Rivalry Chris Billam-Smith prepares to face Cheavon Clarke this Saturday at London's Copper Box arena. This matchup serves as a long-awaited rematch following their 2016 National Championships final, where Clarke secured a victory by decision. Billam-Smith views this encounter as a personal opportunity to rectify a decade-old loss for his younger self. ## Divergent Career Paths While Clarke, 35, pursued a decorated amateur career including appearances at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games, Billam-Smith, 36, found his true stride after turning professional in 2017. Billam-Smith eventually captured British and European titles, culminating in his 2023 cruiserweight world championship win, proving that professional success is defined by the final outcome. ## Professional Record Analysis Billam-Smith holds a professional record of 20 wins and two losses across 22 total fights. His 18-month reign as WBO cruiserweight champion concluded in November 2024 during a unification attempt against WBA super champion Gilberto Ramirez. He successfully rebounded by defeating Brandon Glanton in April 2025 and stopping Ryan Rozicki in June. ## Strategic Zuffa Boxing Move The decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing was driven by Billam-Smith's ambition to secure a high-profile bout against WBA regular champion Jai Opetaia. Both fighters joined the promotion recently, creating a logical pathway for a potential showdown. However, the landscape of professional boxing remains notoriously unpredictable, complicating the realization of such matchups. ## Opetaia's Heavyweight Ambitions Future prospects for a Billam-Smith versus Opetaia fight appear increasingly uncertain as the Australian champion shifts focus toward the heavyweight division. Opetaia is scheduled to face Deontay Wilder on the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua undercard on December 11. This move effectively sidelines potential cruiserweight unification plans for the immediate future. ## External Market Factors Billam-Smith acknowledges that external variables, such as Opetaia's potential future fight against David Benavidez in May, could permanently derail their prospective bout. He maintains a pragmatic outlook, noting that if the fight fails to materialize due to these shifting timelines, he will continue his career trajectory independently of Opetaia's specific path. ## Professional Boxing Dynamics The sport of boxing often relies on complex promotional alignments and fighter availability, which rarely align perfectly. Billam-Smith emphasizes that while being under the same Zuffa Boxing banner facilitates communication, it does not guarantee specific matchups. Fighters must remain focused on their immediate opponents rather than banking on future high-profile title opportunities. ## Legacy and Future Outlook Saturday's fight represents more than just a rematch; it is a testament to Billam-Smith's evolution over the last ten years. Having reached the pinnacle of the cruiserweight division, he remains committed to returning to the highest level of competition. This bout serves as a critical step in his ongoing professional journey. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/c6wyrmmpm0pzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._