Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki Tips & Predictions

Boxing News Hall of Fame writer Graham Houston analyses Saturday night's cruiserweight contest between Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rozicki in Bournemouth and provides his best bets and tips.

Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki Tips Preview

One thing seems certain when Chris Billam-Smith meets Ryan Rozicki this weekend: There will be action.

This 10-round fight headlines Zuffa Boxing’s first UK promotion, with coverage on Sky Sports. It could be seen as an unofficial eliminator for a crack at the cruiserweight championship and Zuffa signing Jai Opetaia.

Billam-Smith is the odds-on 1/3 favourite and the fact that the prices have hardly moved indicates that the betting public sees Rozicki (9/4) as a live underdog.

The multi-tattooed Rozicki is a rugged, come-forward fighter from the Canadian maritime province of Nova Scotia. Opponents don’t have to go looking for Rozicki - he’s right there, looking to engage, as soon as the first bell sounds.

Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KOs) calls himself 'The Bruiser', which just about sums him up. His only loss was on a 12-round decision against the more skilled and 20lbs heavier Oscar Rivas in 2021.

That fight was for the WBC’s inaugural bridgerweight title (weight limit 224lbs). Rozicki was wobbled in the opening round and by the middle rounds he was cut over the eye, but he made the “Bring it on!” gesture and kept steaming straight ahead against his bigger opponent.

Rozicki was the beneficiary of a much-disputed decision against Yamil Peralta, Argentina’s Olympic representative, in 2022. Peralta’s constant movement around the ring proved frustrating for Rozicki and the Canadian slugger ate a lot of jabs.

However, Rozicki showed improvement when he fought Peralta to a 12-round draw in a rematch two years later. He did a much better job of cutting off the ring in the return bout and actually showed some head movement so that he wasn’t getting hit with everything, and Rozicki also jabbed to the body quite effectively.

It was a much steadier and more effective performance second time around against Peralta although Rozicki finished with a nasty bruise and swelling under the eye.

Now Rozicki boxes outside of Canada for the first time in the biggest fight of his career. His promoter, Daniel Otter, calls Rozicki the best-kept secret in boxing.

"Ryan brings a kind of pressure you cannot prepare for until you are locked in the ring with him,” Otter cautioned at last month’s press conference.

Billam-Smith, of course, has faced pressure before in his 23-fight career (21-2, 13 KOs), and he hasn’t been found wanting.

For instance he won a unanimous decision over heavy-handed Richard Riakporhe to avenge a previous defeat, and he upset the odds against the towering Lawrence Okolie.

And in his last fight, Billam-Smith won a unanimous decision over the tank-like Brandon Glanton, who walked forward all night but was confounded by the British boxer’s superior skills and smart counters.

Billam-Smith’s only loss in almost seven years saw him outscored by Zurdo Ramirez in a gutsy cruiserweight title challenge in Riyadh.

The Mexican southpaw’s volume and hand speed proved a bit too much for Billam-Smith. But even though the Bournemouth man was cut severely over the left eye he was always in there trying, bloodied but unbowed.

The fight with Zurdo was a tough one, but Billam-Smith showed no ill effects in outboxing Glanton in a fight that was a pick ’em in the betting markets (5/6 each side, take your pick).

Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki Tale of the Tape

	Chris Billam-Smith	Ryan Rozicki
Record:	21-1 (13 KOs)	21-1-1 (20 KOs)
Age:	35	31
Birthplace:	Epsom, Surrey, England	Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height:	6′ 3″ / 191cm	6′ 2″ / 188cm
Stance:	Orthodox	Orthodox
Last Fight:	Won (UD) vs Brandon Glanton (Apr 25)	Won (KO) vs Gerardo Mellado (Mar 25)
KO%:	61.9%	95.24%
Alias:	'The Gentleman'	N/A

Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki Top Tips

• Chris Billam-Smith - 'To Win Fight' & 'Under 0.5 Knockdowns in the Fight' (Bet Builder) @ 7/5
• Over 8.5 Rounds @ 4/9

Both Billam-Smith and Rozicki are big, strong 200-pounders and each has an excellent chin, so the fight looks like being a long and gruelling affair.

Rozicki is simply never in a bad fight. He prides himself on his grit, durability and tenacity and has spoken of his admiration for the fighting style of the old "Manassa Mauler" Jack Dempsey.

But Rozicki’s KO percentage might be a little flattering. His stoppage wins have mostly come against lower-level opponents.

Rozicki likes his opponents to stand in front of him. He makes no secret of that. So Billam-Smith will probably seek to incorporate some evasion into his style.

While Billam-Smith isn’t elusive in the manner of Yamil Peralta he knows how to vary his tactics, sometimes fighting up close and at other times getting his punches off and getting out of the way.

The Briton's ability to switch things up, then, not always fighting the same way, should allow him to win rounds. He has more dimensions than Rozicki and the higher ring IQ.

Rozicki is very difficult to discourage and his sheer insistence could see Billam-Smith having to dig down and fight through some torrid patches. But I see Billam-Smith as overall the better fighter.

I don’t envisage an early ending. These are fighters who aren’t easy to stop or to knock down. So I’m comfortable taking the 'Over 8.5 Rounds' proposition at 4/9.

I also like the idea of no knockdowns in this fight. Teaming the 'Under 0.5 Knockdowns' proposition in a Bet Builder with Billam-Smith simply 'To Win' gives you a plus-money price of 7/5.

I feel it’s worth considering.

All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.