He doesn't think he can win. He's been world champion. He's cashing out, cus a loss there would mean rebuild.
However, orgs like the WBO, let you have one win and you're no. 1 contender again.
Chris Billam-Smith vs. Roman Fress - Interim WBO title?
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Chris Billam-Smith vs. Roman Fress - Interim WBO title?
However, orgs like the WBO, let you have one win and you're no. 1 contender again.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Chris Billam-Smith vs. Roman Fress - Interim WBO title?
Chris Billam-Smith expected to return in February after side-stepping Roman Fress fight
Former world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith is being lined up for a February return after deciding against a fight with Roman Fress (23-1, 13 KOs).
With their 200-pound champion Gilberto Ramirez currently out through injury, the WBO had ordered Billam-Smith and Fress, their top two ranked fighters, to box for an interim belt.
The initial purse bid for the fight was voided after nobody made an offer but, on a second attempt, SES Promotions pledged $156,921. Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs), who stood to earn 60 per cent of that figure ($94,152.60), decided against taking the fight.
Now his trainer Shane McGuigan has predicted that Billam-Smith, The Ring's No. 2-rated cruiserweight, will return to the ring in February and says their main priority is securing a big-name opponent.
“We’re looking at February now for Chris,” McGuigan told The Ring on Wednesday.
“Like all fighters, everybody is impatient and wants to get out before the end of the year because they want to enjoy their Christmas, but he will have to wait a little bit longer. It has been a frustrating time.”
McGuigan also explained that they were open to a Fress fight and seemed to be close to agreeing a deal without the need for purse bids.
He said: “We knew that Boxxer [Billam-Smith’s promoters] weren't bidding on the purse bids.
“We thought we were coming to an agreement with Fress’ team and we got quite far on with that but then the WBO kept forcing the bids.
“The WBO were aware of what was going on and gave us some extra time to get the deal but we were waiting on a broadcast date, we were waiting on confirmation.
"I think when we were getting pushed on the time, we were not going to jump into anything, so we're going to go and explore the options. For Fress I think it goes to the next contender down the rankings and we will move on.
“I think it makes sense to box names, that is what makes most sense. We were only ever going to fight Fress to get that interim title especially for that amount of money.”
Billam-Smith’s last outing was his decision victory over Brandon Glanton on the undercard of The Ring’s event headlined by Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.
Before that he had been boxing on Sky with Boxxer but it is currently unclear on which platform he will fight next.
Boxxer’s broadcast deal with Sky ended in June and they have since agreed a deal with the BBC, which kicks off on November 29 with the delayed British heavyweight title clash between Frazer Clarke and Jeamie TKV.
The Ring understands that Boxxer’s next date on BBC Two is likely to land in February and, when asked whether he expects Billam-Smith to box on the channel, McGuigan said: “We don't know yet. He could go anywhere. We'll wait and see.
“He could in theory but it depends on the deal, depends on the opponent, the deal, what they want and everything else.
“It has been a frustrating time for everyone who was boxing on Sky before. We hear they are coming back into boxing, now the BBC are in boxing and DAZN are more involved in boxing than ever.
“So it's a good time generally. It's just from June to December it has been a frustrating time for everybody, unless you're on DAZN.”
Former world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith is being lined up for a February return after deciding against a fight with Roman Fress (23-1, 13 KOs).
With their 200-pound champion Gilberto Ramirez currently out through injury, the WBO had ordered Billam-Smith and Fress, their top two ranked fighters, to box for an interim belt.
The initial purse bid for the fight was voided after nobody made an offer but, on a second attempt, SES Promotions pledged $156,921. Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs), who stood to earn 60 per cent of that figure ($94,152.60), decided against taking the fight.
Now his trainer Shane McGuigan has predicted that Billam-Smith, The Ring's No. 2-rated cruiserweight, will return to the ring in February and says their main priority is securing a big-name opponent.
“We’re looking at February now for Chris,” McGuigan told The Ring on Wednesday.
“Like all fighters, everybody is impatient and wants to get out before the end of the year because they want to enjoy their Christmas, but he will have to wait a little bit longer. It has been a frustrating time.”
McGuigan also explained that they were open to a Fress fight and seemed to be close to agreeing a deal without the need for purse bids.
He said: “We knew that Boxxer [Billam-Smith’s promoters] weren't bidding on the purse bids.
“We thought we were coming to an agreement with Fress’ team and we got quite far on with that but then the WBO kept forcing the bids.
“The WBO were aware of what was going on and gave us some extra time to get the deal but we were waiting on a broadcast date, we were waiting on confirmation.
"I think when we were getting pushed on the time, we were not going to jump into anything, so we're going to go and explore the options. For Fress I think it goes to the next contender down the rankings and we will move on.
“I think it makes sense to box names, that is what makes most sense. We were only ever going to fight Fress to get that interim title especially for that amount of money.”
Billam-Smith’s last outing was his decision victory over Brandon Glanton on the undercard of The Ring’s event headlined by Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.
Before that he had been boxing on Sky with Boxxer but it is currently unclear on which platform he will fight next.
Boxxer’s broadcast deal with Sky ended in June and they have since agreed a deal with the BBC, which kicks off on November 29 with the delayed British heavyweight title clash between Frazer Clarke and Jeamie TKV.
The Ring understands that Boxxer’s next date on BBC Two is likely to land in February and, when asked whether he expects Billam-Smith to box on the channel, McGuigan said: “We don't know yet. He could go anywhere. We'll wait and see.
“He could in theory but it depends on the deal, depends on the opponent, the deal, what they want and everything else.
“It has been a frustrating time for everyone who was boxing on Sky before. We hear they are coming back into boxing, now the BBC are in boxing and DAZN are more involved in boxing than ever.
“So it's a good time generally. It's just from June to December it has been a frustrating time for everybody, unless you're on DAZN.”
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 102856
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Chris Billam-Smith vs. Roman Fress - Interim WBO title?
BOXXER CHIEF REVEALS THE TWO NAMES HE WANTS TO MATCH WITH CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH
Promoter Ben Shalom has revealed the two names he would be willing to match with former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith.
The Bournemouth man, currently The Ring's No. 2-rated operator at 200-pounds, has not fought since April when he outboxed Brandon Glanton to earn a decision victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was the only fight of the year for the 35-year-old, whose contract with Boxxer expired at the end of 2025. He is now back in the gym and working towards a spring time return.
'CBS' has been one of Boxxer's most important figures since arriving in 2022, a run which included capturing the WBO title by beating Lawrence Okolie in May 2023, but founder Shalom says there are currently two fights he would be willing to promote involving him.
"He is still part of our plans but only for the right fights," Shalom said.
"We've offered him the Jack Massey fight. We love that fight. Jai Opetaia was another fight we could make - we want those fights."
Ring Magazine champion Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) had a successful 2025, with three wins and three knockout victories. Billam-Smith's compatriot Massey, meanwhile, was stopped by Opetaia in October 2024 but got back to winning ways by beating Ivan Gabriel Garcia (10-4-1, 10 KOs) in November.
"For us it's about what fights excite us," Shalom added. "Jack Massey, we want that fight, Jai Opetaia, I'd do that. But it's got to be fights that the broadcaster is going to be interested in at this stage."
Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) failed in his attempt to unify his WBO title with the WBA belt held by Gilberto Ramirez, who won their Riyadh Season clash on points in November 2024, but he remains highly ranked across the sanctioning bodies.
The IBF have him sitting third, although the first two slots are empty. He is at No. 4 with the WBC and the WBA's No. 8-rated contender. He had also been ordered to face Roman Fress for the WBO interim title while Ramirez recovered from shoulder surgery, though the Englishman decided against accepting the fight following a purse bid in October.
"Roman Fress wasn't something our broadcaster was interested in or anyone was, from the purse bid," Shalom said.
"We want the fights but he's at a stage of his career where that's the only thing that's going to tick the box. He knows that.
"We've had an unbelievable run with Chris and I’m totally in awe of the man. I’m really proud of what we achieved with him, beyond his wildest dreams to be honest. World titles, unifications, stadium shows, everything."
Promoter Ben Shalom has revealed the two names he would be willing to match with former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith.
The Bournemouth man, currently The Ring's No. 2-rated operator at 200-pounds, has not fought since April when he outboxed Brandon Glanton to earn a decision victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was the only fight of the year for the 35-year-old, whose contract with Boxxer expired at the end of 2025. He is now back in the gym and working towards a spring time return.
'CBS' has been one of Boxxer's most important figures since arriving in 2022, a run which included capturing the WBO title by beating Lawrence Okolie in May 2023, but founder Shalom says there are currently two fights he would be willing to promote involving him.
"He is still part of our plans but only for the right fights," Shalom said.
"We've offered him the Jack Massey fight. We love that fight. Jai Opetaia was another fight we could make - we want those fights."
Ring Magazine champion Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) had a successful 2025, with three wins and three knockout victories. Billam-Smith's compatriot Massey, meanwhile, was stopped by Opetaia in October 2024 but got back to winning ways by beating Ivan Gabriel Garcia (10-4-1, 10 KOs) in November.
"For us it's about what fights excite us," Shalom added. "Jack Massey, we want that fight, Jai Opetaia, I'd do that. But it's got to be fights that the broadcaster is going to be interested in at this stage."
Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) failed in his attempt to unify his WBO title with the WBA belt held by Gilberto Ramirez, who won their Riyadh Season clash on points in November 2024, but he remains highly ranked across the sanctioning bodies.
The IBF have him sitting third, although the first two slots are empty. He is at No. 4 with the WBC and the WBA's No. 8-rated contender. He had also been ordered to face Roman Fress for the WBO interim title while Ramirez recovered from shoulder surgery, though the Englishman decided against accepting the fight following a purse bid in October.
"Roman Fress wasn't something our broadcaster was interested in or anyone was, from the purse bid," Shalom said.
"We want the fights but he's at a stage of his career where that's the only thing that's going to tick the box. He knows that.
"We've had an unbelievable run with Chris and I’m totally in awe of the man. I’m really proud of what we achieved with him, beyond his wildest dreams to be honest. World titles, unifications, stadium shows, everything."
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SeanBrennan
- Bantamweight
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- Joined: 12 Feb 2022, 12:45
Re: Chris Billam-Smith vs. Roman Fress - Interim WBO title?
Hope he gets a big fight, he’s watchable and never acts like a plank