Chris Billam-Smith booked to headline Dana White’s first UK Zuffa Boxing show

Apr 29, 2026 - 17:00

Chris Billam-Smith will face Ryan Rozicki in the main event of Zuffa Boxing’s first event in the UK.

Zuffa Boxing, co-founded by UFC CEO Dana White, announced on Wednesday that Bournemouth’s International Centre will host its first show on British soil.

Chris Billam-Smith punches Brandon Glanton during the Cruiserweight fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Brandon Glanton as part of the Fatal Fury - Fight Night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26, 2025 in London, England — Billam-Smith got the better of Brandon Glanton in his last appearance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Former world champion Billam-Smith signed with Zuffa Boxing earlier this month.

He returned to the winning column in April 2025 by defeating Brandon Glanton on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr‘s first fight against Conor Benn.

The 35-year-old previously represented Ben Shalom’s Boxxer, but is now set to make his Zuffa Boxing debut on Sky Sports.

CBS: I feel revitalised going back home

“I think it’s a great fight to really get my teeth stuck into,” Billam-Smith told Sky Sports.

“You can’t have a bad night against him because of the power he carries. So I need to be on it.

“But I feel really revitalised, especially going back home with the new deal as well, it’s really put a spring in my step.

“Then obviously there’s some huge fights down the line with Zuffa for me, so I’m really excited.”

Billam-Smith won the WBO cruiserweight belt from Lawrence Okolie in May 2023.

‘The Gentleman’ defended it for the first time seven months later against Mateusz Masternak – his last fight in Bournemouth to date.

Billam-Smith made another defence of the burgundy and gold strap against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park, but dropped the belt to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in November 2024.

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Chris Billam-Smith punches Gilberto Ramirez during their WBO World Cruiserweight title fight on the Riyadh Season Latino Night at Kingdom Arena on November 16, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — ‘The Gentleman’ suffered his second career loss to Ramirez in 2024, having been defeated by Riakporhe in the pair’s first fight

Should he overcome Canadian Rozicki, Billam-Smith will no doubt have his sights firmly set on a fight against Jai Opetaia.

Opetaia won the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title by outpointing Billam-Smith’s former foe Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas last month.

The undefeated Australian was stripped of his IBF belt two weeks after defeating Glanton, due to Zuffa Boxing introducing the major sanctioning body’s belt as a ‘cruiserweight world title’ at the pre-fight press conference.

Rozicki says Billam-Smith in for ‘roughest fight of his life’

Rozicki, meanwhile, has lost just once in his 23-fight pro boxing journey.

‘The Bruiser’ knocked out Chilean Gerardo Mellado in his last fight, having suffered his only career defeat to Dillian Whyte‘s former rival Oscar Rivas in 2021.

“I’m very excited for this fight,” the 31-year-old said.

Chris Billam-Smith celebrates after victory against Brandon Glanton in the Cruiserweight fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Brandon Glanton as part of the Fatal Fury - Fight Night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26, 2025 in London, England — Billam-Smith goes back to Bournemouth on June 6 for the first time since December 2023

Boxing schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s boxing schedule.

“I’m very excited to fight in front of the UK fans. The UK has some of the most passionate boxing fans in the world, a long, long line of boxing history in the UK.

“I think stylistically we match up really well – it could be fight of the year.

“Chris will be in the roughest fight of his life. A lot of respect for Chris, I’m giving 110 per cent, and that’s it.”