Every fight a 'must win' - Billam-Smith eyes WBC belt
Chris Billam-Smith has said that at this stage in his career "every fight is a must win" as he targets becoming two-time world cruiserweight champion.Billam-Smith suffered his second professional loss back in November when he was defeated by Mexican Gilberto Ramirez in a WBO and WBA cruiserweight unification bout. On Saturday, the Bournemouth boxer faces American Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."With the stage I'm at, I haven't got ages left in the game," 34-year-old Billam-Smith told BBC Sport."Every fight is a must win now, there is no rebuilding and I can't afford to not win, for me it's about this next fight and then getting what I want out of the sport."
After taking a break after defeat, Billam-Smith returned to training at the start of the year and will take on Glanton who has an identical record to his of 20 wins and two losses.The two will fight in north London on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn. Billam-Smith is familiar with Glanton's name as the American ended up attending the fight week prior to his bout with Lawrence Okolie in 2023, and was filmed calling out Isaac Chamberlain and himself on Bournemouth Pier. This contest is between the fifth and fourth-ranked fighters in the WBC cruiserweight rankings, with Billam-Smith the higher of the two. With WBC champion Badou Jack defending his title against Noel Mikaelian early next month, 'The Gentleman' is hoping that a victory could propel him to fighting for the green and gold title next."If I can get one of the other belts like the WBC title then maybe we can get the rematch with Zurdo [Ramirez] on, I'd love that," Billam-Smith added."At the moment, Jai Opetaia [IBF champion] and Ramirez are on a collision course so that leaves Badou Jack, we'll see."Glanton is definitely tough but I believe I'll hurt him, we've seen him get hurt in fights before, I think I'll do a number on him if he can stay in there or not we'll find out on the night." In his 20 wins, Glanton has knocked out 17 of his opponents and since two defeats he has gone on to win his last three in convincing fashion.
Billam-Smith's fight with Ramirez was an entertaining but taxing one as the Briton took heavy punishment and was left with a bloodied face afterwards. He started well but ended up losing the contest by a number of rounds, the two fighters collapsed into each other's arms afterwards, having given everything.Ramirez's impressive record stands at 47-1 with his only professional defeat being by current undisputed light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol."In the ring I thought we showed the best of boxing," Billam-Smith said."We showed that you can be a gentleman outside the ring and give it all in the ring, It was an unbelievable fight."All respect to him, he was the better man on the night and hopefully we can get to do it again."There is plenty of things since the Zurdo fight that I have learned from, we've been putting those things into practice in the gym and I think I'm a better fighter for it."
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