Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke will headline Zuffa Boxing 12 at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday, bringing a ten-year amateur grudge back to the surface ahead of their cruiserweight clash live on Sky Sports.
The 2016 Amateur Final That Shaped Two Careers
Old wounds still ache in the cruiserweight division. Ten years ago, in the final of the national amateur championships, Cheavon Clarke defeated Chris Billam-Smith to capture the title. That single three-round encounter sent their boxing lives spinning in sharply contrasting directions. Clarke used the momentum to propel himself onto the GB boxing squad, ultimately shining as an Olympian and launching his professional career as an anointed A-side prospect.
Billam-Smith never won the elite amateur national title. He entered that 2016 final as the heavy favourite, chasing the gateway to the Olympic programme after reaching the final three years prior. Instead, Clarke unseated him to become the country’s amateur number one. While Clarke celebrated wildly in the ring, Billam-Smith was forced to take the hard road, turning professional on small-hall shows and climbing out of the mud to eventually claim British, Commonwealth, European, and world honours.
Contrasting Styles and the Psychology of Revenge
As professionals, both men have evolved significantly from the fighters who shared a ring a decade ago. Billam-Smith points out that his tactical approach has completely flipped since his days as an amateur out-and-out boxer working long on the backfoot. Now, the European champion relies on fighting on the front foot and punching short.
Yet the psychological driver remains intensely personal for Billam-Smith. He admits to a deep-seated inner competitive spirit that relishes avenging defeats. He previously cleared that mental hurdle against Richard Riakporhe, and he is determined to square the ledger with Clarke. But the task carries severe risks. Clarke demonstrated his sheer resilience and heavy-handed power in his previous outing, picking himself up from the canvas twice before stopping Jack Massey in the seventh round.
The Stakes on the Outskirts of the Division
Viddal Riley, the current European cruiserweight champion who has shared a ring with Billam-Smith as an amateur and sparred alongside the elite tier, notes that the loss affected Billam-Smith for years despite lasting only nine minutes. Riley points out the stark contrast in how their professional journeys commenced, with Clarke entering the paid ranks as an Olympian while Billam-Smith fought his way up from obscurity.
Clarke approaches Saturday night with his own point to prove, fueled by the memory of people writing him off a decade ago. With the event broadcast live on Sky Sports and tickets available via Ticketmaster, both fighters are aware of the challenge ahead.
| Fighter | Amateur Encounter | Professional Standing | Key Recent Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Billam-Smith | Lost 2016 National Final | Former World Champion | Revenge win over Richard Riakporhe |
| Cheavon Clarke | Won 2016 National Final | Former Olympian & A-Side Prospect | Stopped Jack Massey after two knockdowns |
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
