As fight night arrives at the Copper Box Arena for the blockbuster Zuffa Boxing 12 card, anticipation has reached a fever pitch for the main event cruiserweight showdown between former world champion Chris Billam-Smith and the highly dangerous Cheavon Clarke. Live on Sky Sports from 7pm, this domestic collision has captured the imagination of the British boxing public, drawing intense debate, tactical breakdowns, and contrasting predictions from some of the sport’s most respected names.
The animosity and competitive fire between the two fighters have only intensified during fight week. Tensions boiled over during their initial face-off when Cheavon Clarke pointedly refused to shake Chris Billam-Smith’s hand, signaling that their shared history extends far beyond a standard professional bout. The pair previously clashed in the amateur ranks over a decade ago—a brief nine-minute encounter that left a lasting impression on their development—and now, years later, they stand on the precipice of a much larger professional stage with major global implications in the cruiserweight division.
To gauge how this high-stakes encounter might unfold, several prominent figures in British boxing have offered their expert insights, breaking down the tactical nuances, mental fortitude, and physical attributes that could decide the winner.
George Groves
Former world champion George Groves brings a seasoned analyst’s eye to the matchup, noting the intricate stylistic dynamics at play between the two contenders.
"Cheavon beat him as an amateur and he is a better boxer than Chris Billam-Smith," Groves observed when assessing the technical capabilities of both men. However, despite acknowledging Clarke’s amateur success and refined skill set, Groves leans toward the experience and current condition of the former world titleholder.
"I can’t see him beating Chris Billam-Smith. Chris had a bit of time out of the ring after the Gilberto Ramirez fight. But I think through this period he’s maybe just refreshed himself a little bit. I feel he’s coming to this fight a little bit fresher than Chev Clarke."
Groves also highlighted the unique and exhausting style that Billam-Smith brings into the ring, noting that his relentless forward pressure can disrupt even the most technically proficient opponents.
"It’s a great fight. Chris is a bit of a nightmare to fight. He just keeps coming, you can be clearly outboxing him but he’s just going to keep coming and maybe that’s not what Chev needs right now," Groves said.
At the same time, Groves remains fully aware of Clarke’s exceptional athletic traits and resilience. "Chev is fast, Chev’s a really good boxer, he’s got good handspeed, he’s got good ring IQ and we know Chev can get up off the floor, he can dig deep when he has to. It’s a really good interesting fight. I make Chris Billam-Smith the favourite but you still can’t write off Cheavon Clarke."
Viddal Riley
European cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley shares a similarly competitive outlook, emphasizing that the bout is much closer than public consensus might suggest.
"The fight is definitely more level than what we’ve seen and what people are saying," Riley noted during a recent discussion on the Toe 2 Toe podcast. He expects Billam-Smith to ultimately secure the victory, but warns that the opening rounds will present formidable challenges.
"I think Chris gets the win but early on it’s going to be extremely difficult for him. Chev’s a very sharp, compact, accurate puncher, puts punches together and I think while Chris is trying to find his rhythm and get the timing and waiting for Chev to slow down, it’s going to be hard for him."
According to Riley, the momentum of the fight is likely to shift dramatically as the rounds progress into the championship distance. As the pace slows and the contest transforms into a grueling battle of attrition, Riley believes Billam-Smith’s stamina and physical style will take over.
"From the halfway point when it turns more toe to toe, more of a war, it will lean into Chris’ favour. So I think Chris will come out on a points decision victory."
Joshua Buatsi
World title challenger Joshua Buatsi offers a different perspective, heavily backing his compatriot and close training associate due to the intangibles Clarke has demonstrated under extreme pressure.
Reflecting on their amateur encounters, Buatsi noted, "They boxed in the amateurs twice, Chev won both, but as we know the amateurs is a sprint. A 10-round fight is more of a marathon. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out and who can do better over longer duration."
While acknowledging Billam-Smith’s championship pedigree and proven ability to operate at the elite global level, Buatsi points to Clarke’s remarkable mental toughness as a defining factor.
"Chris is a former world champion. He’s shown he can operate at that level. What we’ve seen from Chev, he’s shown something I think is very special. When he was down twice against Massey, he showed something that you can’t teach, something that you have it in you or not and I think that will always carry him."
Leaning entirely into his personal allegiance and belief in Clarke’s ceiling, Buatsi stated unequivocally: "I back Chev to win, that’s my guy hands down."
Dan Azeez
Former European champion Dan Azeez expects a tactical yet bruising encounter, ultimately predicting that Billam-Smith’s sharpness will pave the way for a late finish.
"I’m going to go with Chris Billam-Smith," Azeez said. "I think Chev is a great fighter, and fair play to him for getting off the canvas to beat Jack Massey. But Billam-Smith looks confident, and I think he might just be a little too sharp and tidy for Chev. That’s my feeling, if I’m honest."
Azeez anticipates that Billam-Smith’s sustained pressure will wear down his opponent over the course of the fight, culminating in a decisive late stoppage. "I think CBS maybe late stoppage," he added.
Connal McDonald
Scottish champion Connal McDonald views the matchup as a genuine 50-50 contest that has all the ingredients to steal the show and claim Fight of the Year honors.
"Genuine 50-50 fight," McDonald said. "I think Chris Billam-Smith’s a great boxer, but I think he gets dragged into brawls when he could probably box a bit more. I think this will probably be fight of the year because I think both guys will look at this as their ticket back straightaway to major honours and maybe even a chance at Jai Opetaia."
Given the high stakes and the explosive styles of both men, McDonald forecasts a razor-thin conclusion on the judges’ scorecards, ultimately favoring the former world champion to edge the decision.
"I would say Billam-Smith majority decision."
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Cheavon Clarke tonight from 7pm live on Sky Sports.