Even with a world title on his resume, Chris Billam-Smith cannot completely shake his two amateur losses to Cheavon Clarke. On Saturday, November 7, he gets his shot at redemption, though he risks far more than the man who twice got the better of him in the unpaid ranks.
Their 10-round cruiserweight clash tops Zuffa Boxing 12 at London’s Copper Box Arena, broadcast live on Sky Sports and Paramount+. This marks their first meeting as pros, and Billam-Smith admits those past defeats fuel his fire.
“I’ve got a lot of bitterness inside me which I need to unleash on November 7!” Billam-Smith told Sky Sports in October. Clarke’s wins include the 2016 national amateur championship final, which crushed Billam-Smith’s long-standing tournament dream.
That backstory brings real heat to this matchup, but Billam-Smith must keep his emotions in check. A victory maintains his momentum toward another major title run. Chasing payback for a decade-old loss could easily backfire against a dangerous puncher.
Clarke showcased his resilience along with his defensive flaws against Jack Massey in June. He hit the canvas twice before rallying to halt Massey. Billam-Smith competed on that same Bournemouth card, dispatching Ryan Rozicki in seven rounds. Both enter the ring coming off stoppage wins, yet Clarke’s grit under fire stands out as a crucial factor.
Those knockdowns offer Billam-Smith an incentive to test Clarke’s chin early. Still, they serve as a clear warning to remain composed if Clarke gets hurt. Clarke proved that dropping him does not guarantee the win. Rushing in recklessly could leave Billam-Smith wide open to counterpunches.
As a former WBO champion, Billam-Smith owns the far more accomplished professional resume. That pedigree ought to carry more weight than short-format amateur bouts from years ago. Billam-Smith excels in grueling pro championship rounds where physical strength, inside fighting, and pace control reign supreme.
Clarke is 35, entered the pro ranks late, and his absolute ceiling so far has been British and European contention. If Billam-Smith goes out and dominates him over ten rounds, the immediate reaction will simply be that an experienced former world champion beat a novice pro who started his career late. Nobody is awarding Billam-Smith points in the world cruiserweight rankings for beating a domestic contender.
If things go wrong, the fallout is devastating. Clarke can crack, as Jack Massey found out, and Billam-Smith gets hit cleanly in almost every fight he enters. Getting clipped or outpointed by someone who has not even fought for a world title instantly kills Billam-Smith’s chances of getting back in line for the division leaders or securing another massive payday.
Letting amateur grudges dictate matchmaking at this stage of a pro career is purely emotional thinking. It satisfies a personal itch, but in business terms, it is a massive detour that risks throwing away years of hard-earned status over a couple of short-format bouts from 2016.
