The experts have their say ahead of Chris Billam-Smith vs Cheavon Clarke, live on Sky Sports from 7 p.m.
George Groves (former world champion)
Cheavon beat him as an amateur and he is a better boxer than Chris Billam-Smith. But I can’t see him beating Chris Billam-Smith. Chris had some time out of the ring after the Gilberto Ramirez bout. But I think during this period he probably just cooled off a bit. I feel like he’s coming into this fight a little fresher than Chev Clarke.
It’s a big fight. Chris is a bit of a nightmare to fight. It just keeps coming, you can send it clear, but it’s just going to keep coming and maybe that’s not what Chev needs right now.
Chev’s fast, Chev’s a really good boxer, he’s got good hand speed, he’s got good ring IQ and we know Chev can get off the floor, he can dig deep when he needs to. It’s a very good interesting fight. I do Chris Billam-Smith favourite, but you still can’t give up on Cheavon Clarke.
Viddal Riley (European Champion)
The fight is definitely more level than what we’ve seen and what people are saying. I think Chris wins, but it will be extremely difficult for him at first. Chev is a very sharp puncher, compact, accurate, puts his punches together and I think as Chris is trying to find his rhythm and take his time and wait for Chev to slow down, it will be difficult for him.
By the halfway point when it turns more toe to toe, more of a fight, it will tilt in Chris’s favor. So I think Chris will come away with a decisive points win.
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Speaking on the Toe 2 Toe podcast, European cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley predicts a tight fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Chev Clarke at Zuffa Boxing 12.
Joshua Buatsi (world title challenger)
They boxed twice in amateurs, Chev won both, but as we know amateurs it’s a sprint. A 10-round fight is more of a marathon. It will be interesting to see how it performs and who can do better for a longer duration. Chris is a former world champion. He has shown that he can perform at that level. What we’ve seen from Chev, he’s shown something that I think is very special. When he went against Massey twice, he showed something that you can’t teach, something that you either have in you or you don’t and I think that will always stick with him.
I’m backing Chev to win, that’s my guy hands down.
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Chris Billam-Smith and Chev Clarke share a first week head-to-head clash ahead of their Zuffa Boxing 12 clash on Saturday.
Dan Azeez (former European Champion)
I’ll go with Chris Billam-Smith. I think Chev is a great fighter and fair play to him for stepping off the canvas to beat Jack Massey. But Billam-Smith looks confident and I think he might be a bit too sharp and tidy for Chev. That’s my feeling, if I’m honest.
I think CBS can stop late.
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Watch when Chris Billam-Smith and Cheavon Clarke faced each other in their amateur bout more than ten years ago.
Connell McDonald (Scottish Champion)
The real 50-50 fight. I think Chris Billam-Smith is a great boxer, but I think he gets dragged into fights when he could probably box a little more. I think this will probably be the fight of the year because I think both guys will see this as their ticket right back to the big honors and maybe even a shot at Jai Opetaia.
I would say Billam-Smith majority decision.
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Cheavon Clarke tonight from 7pm live Sky Sports.
