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Chris Billam-Smith is determined to fight again before the end of the year, whether Joy Opetaia is ready.
Billum-Smith defeated Ryan Rosicky in a remarkable, brutal cruiserweight battle last month.
But the Bournemouth man has already recovered enough to box once more in the final quarter of 2026.
“It was definitely a lot less brutal for me,” says Billam-Smith Sky Sports. “I was driving a lot of shots.
“I got some decent moves, head movement and defensive work, which was definitely needed in that fight. I think if I didn’t have that, it could have been a different outcome.”
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Chris Billum-Smith found out how tough Ryan Rosicky was after the Canadian took nine clean shots from The Gentleman.
Even his cuts have healed. “Wolverine skin!” He joked.
Billam-Smith has made no secret of his desire to face Opetaya, who is widely recognized as the best in the division.
“The Opetaia battle, I have no idea what’s going on with that but it was one that we prepared for. I’m not sure what the plans are. I haven’t heard anything,” said Billam-Smith.
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Chris Billum-Smith reflects on the incredible sequence of punches that Ryan Rosicky somehow avoided during their incredible fight on Saturday
“I’m not going to wait around,” he continued. “I want to be out again this year. I don’t know what’s next.
“Whether it’s October, November, December, I’m looking at those dates.”
‘There’s only so much a man can take’
Billam-Smith had to pay tribute to his last opponent’s “strange powers of recovery”.
“It was good to get through it again because I’d been out of the ring for so long,” said Billam-Smith. “It’s great to see how well I’m in shape.
“In the third round I hit him with that uppercut and he looked like he was going down and somehow stayed up and 10 seconds later was punching again!”
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The Sky Sports Boxing commentary team watch in disbelief as Ryan Rosicky takes some huge shots from opponent Chris Billam-Smith in their Zuffa Boxing 07 main event.
He couldn’t finish such a laborious operator with one punch – so he decided to channel Joe Calzaghe’s high volume approach. “A much slower version of Joe Calzaghe and much less efficient!” Billam-Smith laughed. “But I thought the ref would jump as long as I kept punching.
“I figured I’d get to him at some point in the next few rounds. There’s only so much a man can take.”
The Canadian corner eventually withdrew after seven all-action rounds.
Billam-Smith won the fight decisively. No case for a rematch, this was absolutely compelling to watch.
“It was a very entertaining fight,” Billam-Smith said, “If he has a good run and I have a good run and we get back to that level, I’m sure we can do it again.”
