Chris Billum-Smith could hit the canvas if he engages Ryan Rosicky in ‘ego’ battle on Saturday, says Jonny Nelson | Boxing news

It might sound a bit crude, but when Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rosicky meet in Bournemouth on Saturday, you’ll have two cavemen who want to slug it out.

That’s what Billam-Smith will be dragged into, as Rosicky knows. And for that reason alone, I think it will be a really entertaining fight, an absolute bruiser.

Both fighters are drawn to an argument, so we can almost certainly predict that there will be no feel-out process.

Billam-Smith is a good fighter who can box a bit. But even if he’s asked to box out, the second he gets hit, that goes out the window. He’ll be that guy again. He’ll be the one who says: I’m tear-up, I’m doing some of it.

Meanwhile, Rosicky is a good fighter, point blank – that’s it. He may have a scrap. He doesn’t want gloves; He wants to go barefoot. He said he got into boxing but didn’t like it because he had gloves on. That’s the kind of guy.

I think Billam-Smith wins the fight, but if he does, it’s going to be a hard-fought points win. He’s never been this bad in his career, but don’t be surprised if he hits the canvas.

Losing the war is winning the war

It’s about ego – fighters have big egos. Will Billam-Smith grant Rosicky his wish and try to beat him at his own game, or will he be smart and say; No, I’m not playing that game? I hope he doesn’t, because if he does, you’re giving a chance to someone who doesn’t have a chance.

And therein lies the problem. I have been in this game for a long time. I’ve seen fighters do it, get into tear-ups, and then think: Why didn’t I box him? It is better to lose a war than to win a war.

I don’t think Chris is a technical supremo, but I think he is technically better than Rosicky. So Chris has to box and bash, box and bash – that’s what he should focus on, nothing else.

If he wants to stand there toe-to-toe, Rosicky is the type of fighter who’s happy to do it. This is heaven for him. Chris doesn’t want to do that; He must do what he can to win and live to fight another day.

This is the discipline you need, especially if you want to be a world champion and stay one. You have to be able to outsmart, outwork and hold your nerve.

This is a lesson that all fighters must learn. Do what you do best. Work on what you are not good at, but do what you are good at, because that will always stand you in good stead.

Will Belam-Smith hold up his end of the bargain?

Billum-Smith needs it. He takes a big step in Zuffa and, while doing so, he thinks: I made this move, I have to make sure it counts. I have to make sure it’s worth my time.

Going to Zuffa is a bold move, as many warriors are heading into the unknown. Zuffa is trying to bring something new, loud and in your face to UK boxing. As far as they are concerned, if you can fight, you are. They don’t care who is in which corner; They want to fight the best.

All promoters, whatever they say or think, are cautious. They are looking at Jufa. They are watching Dana White. Jufa will be judged.

Joy Opetaya joins Zuffa because she wants to fight the best. He doesn’t want to play this snakes and ladders game.

That’s what Zuffa wants to introduce – fighting, no matter how dangerous.

For Billam-Smith, those fights – including one against Opatija – will be in his favour, if he holds up his end of the bargain.

A defeat spoils things significantly, because why would Opetaya want to fight a loser? He wants to fight Chris because he is a former world champion. If Chris loses, Opetaya will want to fight the man who beat him.

This is the risk, this is the chance you are taking in this game.

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