Chris Billam-Smith: I was ready for Badou Jack - I want to fight for a world title again

[ad_1] Chris Billam-Smith has acknowledged that he would have been completely satisfied to step in to combat Badou Jack following the damage of scheduled opponent Ryan Rozicki (changed by Noel Mikaelian), citing his starvation to be a world champion once more.

The 34-year-old earned a victory over Brandon Glanton on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn. A build-up of unhealthy blood between the 2 paved the best way for a fierce battle on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Billam-Smith profitable through a transparent unanimous resolution.

It was a large second for Billam-Smith, who aimed to get again to profitable methods following his heartbreak in Riyadh. The Bournemouth boxer misplaced his WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez again in November 2024, having in the end been well-beaten of their unification combat.

Billam-Smith was a visitor on Sky Sports activities' Toe2Toe Podcast and, discussing his future, he stated: "I simply need to combat for a world title once more.

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"I believe the winner of Badou Jack and Mikaelian is most definitely. You hear rumours within the business that if Ramirez and [Jai] Opetaia come via their fights, they're going to combat one another.

"These are the names that I am desirous about.

"For me it is nearly staying match and being current. After this weekend, we would have extra of an concept of what the lay of the land is.

"I believe it is simply vital for me to modify off just a little bit from boxing. I've received an awesome workforce round me, who fear about future fights, so I can go away them and allow them to do their job."

Jack and Mikaelian are set to face one another on the undercard of the Canelo vs Scull combat on Could 3.

Jack was initially scheduled to combat Rozicki, who was the obligatory challenger for the WBC cruiserweight world title. Nevertheless, the Canadian needed to pull out resulting from a torn bicep.

Billam-Smith acknowledged that he was able to step in to combat Jack in Riyadh.

"I used to be in camp, and the very first thing I did once I noticed that Rozicki was out, was to textual content Ben Shalom saying, 'get me that combat!'

"The Glanton combat was a combat to get me again within the title combine, in order that was nearly a bypass of the stage. However what occurred occurred.

"So long as I am match and in coaching, I am by no means going to go in there underprepared.

"Like I stated with the Badou Jack state of affairs, I used to be boxing per week earlier than him, so it will've given me per week further to arrange bodily."

<div class="sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn" data-account-id="6057984924001" data-amp-iframe-embed="" data-asset-id="fdd1322c-684a-4b83-b71c-ba455994723c" data-asset-path="" data-asset-version="" data-autoplay="false" data-auth-config="{"url":"https://api.condatis.sky/auth/video/token","tokenRequired":true,"fetchMethod":"url","fetchOptions":{"encoded":true},"headers":{"X-SkyGDP-Proposition":"sportweb","X-SkyGDP-Territory":"GB","Authorization":"OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA="}}" data-caption="WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack says he'd prefer to fight the other champions in the division rather than British ex-world title holder Chris Billam-Smith" data-clip-type="" data-component-name="sdc-site-video" data-component-name-alias="ui-sitewide-video" data-competition="" data-copy-url-text="URL copied to clipboard" data-fn="sdc-site-video" data-id="id_fdd1322c-684a-4b83-b71c-ba455994723c" data-is-live-stream="false" data-lite="true" data-options="" data-originator-id="49" data-originator-handle="brightcove-sport-gb" data-package-name="" data-provider="brightcove" data-player-id="DESF5xFjJ" data-playsinline="" data-sensitive="false" data-sdc-id="6879887" data-sdc-video-id="fdd1322c-684a-4b83-b71c-ba455994723c" data-sport-category="" data-state="loading" data-token-state="none" data-video-ad-unit="videoplayer" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids="" data-video-id="ref:fdd1322c-684a-4b83-b71c-ba455994723c" data-video-type="" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible="" tabindex="-1" data-closed-captions-position="" data-show-closed-captions="true" data-show-pip="" data-show-live-stream-scrubber="" data-autoload=""> Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

<img loading="lazy" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/04/768x432/skysports-boxing-jack-cbs_6879893.jpg?20250408145557" alt="WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack says he'd prefer to fight the other champions in the division rather than British ex-world title holder Chris Billam-Smith." srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/04/768x432/skysports-boxing-jack-cbs_6879893.jpg?20250408145557 600w,https://e0.365dm.com/25/04/1600x900/skysports-boxing-jack-cbs_6879893.jpg?20250408145557" aria-hidden="true" class="sdc-site-video__poster-img excluded-image"/> WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack says he'd favor to combat the opposite champions within the division reasonably than British ex-world title holder Chris Billam-Smith It is clear that the intentions of Billam-Smith have not gone unnoticed by Jack. The WBC cruiserweight champion had beforehand spoken to Sky Sports activities, reflecting on previous call-outs from 'the gentleman' and Callum Smith.

"The British guys, Callum Smith and Billam-Smith, they get courageous as a result of they know I am just a little bit older and coming from a protracted lay-off. That is once they get courageous," Jack instructed Sky Sports activities.

"However I did not hear nobody calling me out earlier than. It is okay. It is good. That is the way you get the massive fights. Additionally I am a giant identify. They need to receives a commission, they need to get the massive fights, I perceive that too.

"[With] the massive fights that I have been in, in comparison with the opposite champions, I've a method larger identify so clearly that is a much bigger combat for them."

Relating to preventing Billam-Smith or Callum Smith, Jack continued: "If it is a massive cash combat why not?

"However I am specializing in making an attempt to grow to be undisputed. None of those guys have a belt, however you by no means know."

Watch boxing dwell on Sky Sports activities, with Naoya Inoue taking over Ramon Cardenas for the Undisputed World Tremendous-Bantamweight Title on Monday Could 5.