Chris Billam-Smith hits back at 'irrelevant' Ryan Rozicki warning after intense face-off ahead of cruiserweight showdown

Chris Billam-Smith has hit back at Ryan Rozicki's "irrelevant" claim that the Canadian can prevent a hometown 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 Centre (BIC), the venue where the former world champion previously retained the WBO cruiserweight title.

The two were involved in an intense face-off on Bournemouth seafront on Tuesday ahead of headlining Zuffa Boxing's first UK show, where big-hitter Rozicki reiterated his belief that he can bring about Billam-Smith's first career stoppage.

• 'We don't see enough violence' - Rozicki wants war!
• Billam-Smith questions Rozicki over Opetaia verdict
• Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW

On getting Saturday's 10-round showdown done in three rounds or less, Rozicki told Sky Sports: "Hopefully shorter. I'm very confident.

"We're going to try not to take as much damage while we're going for the knockout. If it does [go to points], I lost.

"I'm not getting a points decision here. We all know that, so it's a knockout or get knocked out."

Billam-Smith himself played down Rozicki's claim, telling Sky Sports: "I've heard people say it [they will inside three rounds] before - it's irrelevant come fight night.

"I've trained for every possible outcome in my favour. I'm ready for 10 rounds. We'll see what happens after, if he makes it past the third."

Billam-Smith added: "I've had plenty of people in the past think exactly the same and fully believe the same thing - especially people that have come here to the BIC.

"They have thought they're coming in here and are going to do a number of me, so I can do what I always do here and win."

'Rozicki has been hurt in the past!'

Billam-Smith held the WBO cruiserweight title between May 2023 and November 2024, when he lost to Gilberto Ramirez, with the 35-year-old keen to deliver a statement performance on Saturday as he looks to move back towards challenging for world titles.

"Every fight I go into, I want to do the best job on someone and a better job than anyone else has done," Billiam-Smith insisted. "He [Rozicki] has been hurt in the past.

"The bell went at the end of the first against Oscar Rivas and that probably saved him from a knockdown and maybe even a stoppage if there had been 30 second left, but there wasn't.

"He got through it and he rumbled on, does what he does. I think I can get it done inside [the distance]."

Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki this Saturday live on Sky Sports, with live coverage on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Chris Billam-Smith hits back at 'irrelevant' Ryan Rozicki warning after intense face-off ahead of cruiserweight showdown