Billam-Smith renews amateur rivalry with Clarke in cruiserweight clash

Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke meet in a 10-round cruiserweight contest at the Copper Box Arena in London on 7 November, headlining a Zuffa Boxing card billed as Zuffa Boxing 12.

Billam-Smith, who holds a record of 22-2 with 14 knockouts, takes on Clarke, who stands at 12-2 with nine stoppages, in a fight that will be shown live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 7pm, and on Paramount+ in the United States and Canada, according to Yahoo Sports.

The two men previously fought as amateurs, and that history formed the backdrop to a face-off interview carried out ahead of the contest, footage of which was provided by Sky Sports Boxing.

Billam-Smith played down any residual needle from their amateur meeting but was clear about what winning would mean. "No lingering feelings," he said. "Younger me wanted to win and that's all Saturday night's about. It's about me doing younger me a favour really."

He pointed to his career achievements as the deciding factor. "I think that the experience that I have and what I've proven and shown over the years will make me come out victorious in this fight," Billam-Smith said, adding that he expected Clarke to feel the same way about wanting a win had their positions been reversed.

Clarke, for his part, stressed his own path through the sport rather than any emotional stake in revenge. "We've been there, done it. I've faced hard opponents," he said. "I've faced boxers and I've come through victorious for the most part. Let's make it happen."

He also reflected on how he came to boxing in the first place, saying he originally used it to stay fit for football before beating Billam-Smith as an amateur. "Obviously he went a different way [after our fight in the amateurs] and horses for courses he's done good, won a world title, and it's time for us to get it on now," Clarke said.

Sky Sports Boxing's assessment of the styles, written by Ricky Carroll, described Billam-Smith as a dangerous operator on the inside who throws at high volume, with his body punching highlighted as a particular strength. The piece noted he can be hit, pointing to the punishment he absorbed against Gilberto Ramírez in his most recent outing, but credited his durability for seeing him through to the final bell.

Clarke was assessed as capable of putting combinations together effectively once he lets his hands go, comfortable working off the jab to control range as well as fighting close. His performance against Jack Massey was cited as evidence of his power and resilience.

Carroll's prediction favoured Billam-Smith to win by decision, judging that his output and chin would prove decisive across the 10 rounds even allowing for spells of success from Clarke.

The bout forms the centrepiece of a wider night of boxing at the Copper Box Arena, with Joshua Buatsi against Willy Hutchinson also among the fights featured on the same Zuffa Boxing schedule.