Stay Ready. Keep sharp. Take your opportunities. Not another government slogan but the ethos of British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion Chris Billam-Smith who is offering the same advice to prospective, potential opponents as he searches for a worthy adversary after an eye injury meant that unbeaten fellow cruiserweight Deion Jumah pulled out of their eagerly anticipated domestic match up.
The eye injury sustained by Jumah was serious enough to require surgery, leaving Billam-Smith without an opponent for Matchroom's November 21st card and even though the hope is that the fight can be made again in January, the severity of the injury means there is an element of doubt surrounding the rescheduling. Billam-Smith is hopeful but realistic about the prospect of the fight happening in January and is focusing his attention on securing an alternative for his November date. He told me, "There is talk of the fight being rescheduled for January, but if it is an eye injury, they can be serious injuries. I imagine the time of recovery would be quite long as well. For me, the goal is to get someone else in for November 21st so I can still box and keep busy. In an ideal world, I'd box then and again in January."
On potential challengers for his titles he added, "Who knows? a few people have been offered it and turned it down, so it can't be for the British, so I think we are looking at International opponents now."
It was a statement that seemed-understandably-to suggest that the ordinarily calm, articulate pugilist was mildly frustrated. Frustration at the fact that domestic rivals seem reluctant to step in, especially during a period of time where fighters' opportunities are less frequent and exposure has never been so magnified due to the public's thirst for boxing action.
The man from Bournemouth said, "Maybe it is the division I am in, that people aren't always ready, although I think we got told about this fight fairly late. We didn't get a full camp and it is not ideal but it is what we do, we just train and you get ready as quick as you can, or you stay ready, so you don't have to get ready.
"If you are somebody who is not in a position to call the shots, and you don't know when you are fighting, you would think they would be ready to jump at any opportunity." He also makes the very plausible claim that fighters should be ready and waiting for this eventuality, an injury or cancellation. "It's not like any cruiserweights haven't been boxing recently, there's Tommy McCarthy who boxed at the weekend, one of those guys could have pulled out, if I was one of the lads who didn't have anything lined up I'd be looking at those and looking at all the cruiserweight fights thinking, 'right, someone could pull out there, someone could pull out there, let's be ready to take that opportunity'. That is when upsets happen because fighters prepare for one style, their mind can wander, so it is frustrating for me that nobody is ready to take the fight."
It is hard to disagree with that notion, especially if you consider that one of the most high profile upsets in modern times was caused by Andy Ruiz who stripped Anthony Joshua of his titles after stepping in at late notice.
With only one defeat on his record (a narrow split decision loss to Richard Riakporhe) the 6ft 3 cruiserweight was looking forward to putting on a show for the viewers at home and was in no doubt that the blend of styles between himself and Jumah would have made for an exciting spectacle. Epitomizing his nickname 'The Gentleman' Billam-Smith offered praise for his cruiserweight foe saying, "I think it would have been a tremendous fight, it really could have been one of the fights of the year. If we had both stayed on our feet for twelve rounds, I definitely think it would have been fight of the year. I think stylistically we are not the kind of fighters that hold lots, we don't sit back and run, we both come to fight and we put everything into our shots and it would have been such a brilliant fight, it is a shame it can't happen. I just hope he can recover, and he is safe to box in the future."
Billam-Smith has become something of a fan-friendly fighter in that he is not normally involved in dull bouts. His heavy hands, all action style and penchant for power punch displays have seen him blow away his last two opponents, most recently on Eddie Hearn's fight camp show in August against undefeated Welshman Nathan Thorley. It was an impressive victory as both slugged away until Billam-Smith's will and skill prevailed to put the gutsy Thorley away, but the 30-year-old is acutely aware of the need to mix up his repertoire and revert back to his boxing skills where necessary. He added, "I was an out-and-out boxer as an amateur, but my inside game and short shots have developed really, really well. I have relied on it a bit too much, my power, earlier on. I have just tried to stand there with a few real tough opponents. Before the Riakporhe fight, I was trying to stand there with a bloke from the Czech Republic and just throw bombs at him and he would not go anywhere. Now I have learned a lot, I'm adapting all the time and using my feet well, which is what I'm good at, but also getting into positions where I can deliver powerful shots as well. I'm a bit of a 'jack of all trades' maybe master of none."
Those improvements and adjustments could be attributed in some part to the addition of Lawrence Okolie to the McGuigan Gym. Okolie joined in 2019 and when asked to explain the relationship and initial reaction to the arrival of another top level British cruiserweight to the stable, the ever-relaxed Bournemouth man was only complimentary and was effusive in his praise for Okolie who will fight for the WBO strap against Krzysztof Glowacki in December. "Obviously I didn't know what Lawrence's plans were, and what Shane's plans were for him, with a cruiserweight coming in, it was different at first but I was aware he was stages ahead of me, but at the end of the day we both have the same goal. We sat down and spoke and said that Lawrence was looking to have one or two world title fights at cruiser then move up to heavyweight, so we looked at my timeline and his timeline and it sort of worked out okay and I believe it has been a good move for me and Lawrence. I think I have become a better fighter for it, and I believe he has."
There have been some stupendous behind closed doors spectacles this year, unfortunately we as viewers have not been privy to the action that has happened behind closed doors between Okolie and Billam-Smith in sparring and judging by the description of their sessions, we wouldn't have been disappointed had we had front row seats. "We have some really good spars, we spar all the time, they are always really good competitive spars and it is good to have him in the gym because he is someone at my weight at world level.
"We have very different styles, but I think it has been a massive benefit to us both. I'm working on trying to get past his awkwardness and he is working on his inside game when I'm on the inside, I think we gel really well."
Stablemate Lawrence Okolie may well be on a different career trajectory at the moment but another British fighter who definitely is not is recently crowned EBU European champion Tommy McCarthy. With Billam-Smith holding the British and Commonwealth titles, the natural progression is to fight for a European title, and he saw nothing in McCarthy's latest outing to deter him from pursuing that fight. McCarthy being with Matchroom gives further credence to the possibility of a showdown with the Belfast man. "I'm happy to be fighting and progressing the way I have been, the McCarthy fight would make sense, I think. Being a Matchroom fighter, being from Ireland, he is known to Sky viewers and once you have had British and Commonwealth, European is naturally next, so I would love that fight. That would be a good fight, Tommy can box, and he can punch a bit as well so it would be an interesting fight and I think would make the most sense for everyone involved. I don't think his last performance was anything to shout about but you know, it is strange times for everyone, and he got the belt. He is not ready for world level so it would make sense to fight me next."
If you include Jumah, Billam-Smith's last four opponents have a cumulative record of 46 wins and just 2 defeats. Though, typically he refused to be boastful upon presentation of the statistic and insists that the calibre of opposition is the most significant detail. "You see people waiting around for opportunities and the perfect opportunity and you just have to take these fights. If you are not in the game to take 50/50 fights, you shouldn't be in it at all really.
"After the Riakporhe fight, I was offered the Craig Glover fight for the Commonwealth. That was very much a 50/50 fight. I knew Craig, I knew how good he was, I knew how tough he was, but that is what you are in the sport for. You are no good being 30-0 and just beating up fighters with no names on your record, because you are not going to be able to build your career very well.
"Too many fighters worry about keeping their '0'.
The man charged with harnessing Billam-Smith's talent is Shane McGuigan. It is only fair to acknowledge the role played by someone who has already overseen world champions like George Groves and Josh Taylor and Chris certainly did not want to allow the interview to pass without any mention of the hard work and dedication offered up by his trainer. McGuigan-whose excellent reputation is still growing-often foregoes any kind of regular 'time off' and in his pursuit for more world champions at the gym, continues with a relentless schedule. Explaining Shane's work, Chris said, "The thing is, Shane is a really hard grafter and does everything for his fighters and I think he has proven that time and time again over the years, going from one camp to the next and he rarely gets to have time off. He has probably had about, I don't know 3 or 4 weeks off in the last 3 years so yeah, he is always grafting."
There is no doubt that Chris Billam-Smith is as easy going as they come when you speak to him, some boxers can be bristly, abrupt and offer one word answers. Not Chris, he is happy to elaborate on a point and respond to your line of question unequivocally. However, don't be duped into thinking that he isn't fiercely competitive and determined to succeed. It is all there, succinctly wrapped in the responses throughout the interview. He has an ambition and a steady belief that underpins his unwavering quest to move forward and up the proverbial boxing ladder.
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