Cheavon Clarke refused to shake hands with Chris Billam-Smith during their face-off interview ahead of Saturday's cruiserweight clash at the Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports. Billam-Smith, seeking revenge for a painful amateur defeat in the 2016 elite championship final, offered a handshake, but Clarke only accepted a fist bump. The pair stared each other down in a tense standoff as they promoted their upcoming Zuffa Boxing 12 headliner in London.
Clarke, who won that amateur bout, insists he never stole Billam-Smith’s place, stating, "We fought, I won on the day." Billam-Smith, now a former WBO world champion after defeating Lawrence Okolie in 2023, believes losing to Clarke motivated him to train with Shane McGuigan, claiming he wouldn't have reached his potential otherwise. Clarke, who bounced back from two knockdowns to stop Jack Massey in his last fight, warned, "I'm Cheavon Clarke, you can't ever count me out." Billam-Smith countered, "If I had Chev hurt, I believe I can get rid of him." The rivalry culminates in a highly anticipated professional rematch.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing