Chris Billam-Smith has been installed as the odds-on favourite to right the biggest wrong of his amateur career when he locks-horns with domestic cruiserweight foe Cheavon Clarke on Saturday night.
Chris Billam-Smith vs Cheavon Clarke Odds
Odds will display when markets are available.
The bout, which tops Zuffa Boxing's latest domestic bill, serves as a full-circle rematch over a decade in the making and provides former world champion, and 2/9 pre-fight front-runner, Billam-Smith the opportunity to avenge one of the most painful losses of his life.
The Bournemouth star, who was regarded as British boxing's hottest amateur prospect at the time, succumb to a shock defeat at the hands of Clarke in the final of the National Championships back in 2016; a defeat that ended his lifelong dream of representing Team GB on the Olympic stage.
Of course, it ultimately proved a blessing in disguise as it prompted him to turn his hand to professional boxing; a journey that famously culminated in his progression from small hall shows to lucrative and high-profile cruiserweight world title showdowns, both at home and abroad.
Now, having been relinquished of the prized WBO belt by the talented Mexican Gilberto Ramirez, CBS is keen to continue his boxing rebuild with what would be a third victory in succession, and undoubtedly one of the sweetest of his career.
The 36-year-old overcame adversity to see off Brandon Glanton in a hard-hitting affair last April, before forcing Ryan Rozicki to quit on his stool at the end of the seventh round this summer -- the same night Clarke teed up this weekend's rematch with a spectacular TKO triumph over former European champion Jack Massey.
While it's Clarke, who has stopped his opponent nine times across his 12 professional successes, who heads into the contest as the significant 3/1 underdog, he will take huge heart from the fact that he has already defied the odds to upstage his fellow Briton on the big stage.
All odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
