Ryan Rozicki believes he will face more than just Chris Billam-Smith when he travels to Bournemouth this Saturday for the main event of Zuffa Boxing’s first UK card.
The Canadian puncher (21-1-1, 20 KOs) will challenge former WBO cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) in a 10-round cruiserweight fight at the Bournemouth International Centre. Rozicki made it clear that he expects hometown circumstances to work against him.
“Obviously there’s a downside. I’m going to be up against Chris. I’m going to be up against the referee, the judges, the officials and those doctors. They’ll look for any reason to stop the fight so he can get the win. I already know that,” Rozicki told Fighthype.
When asked how he plans to not leave the outcome in the hands of the officials, Rozicki gave a simple answer.
“With my hands.”
The bout is Billam-Smith’s debut under his new multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing. The Bournemouth native will fight in front of his home fans as a heavy favorite against one of the division’s biggest punchers.
Rozicki also revealed a level of honesty rarely heard from fighters when discussing his own record. Looking back at his first fight against Emiliano Peralta, he admitted he believed the judges got the decision wrong.
“That should have been a loss on my record. I still say that to this day. The first one was his, and that was the mistake I made,” Rozicki said. “I underestimated him going in.”
Rozicki explained that he entered that fight already looking for a world title opportunity and paid the price.
“I was looking straight at the WBC world title. I thought, ‘I’m going to knock this guy out in the first round.’ That’s what I did. I looked past him,” Rozicki said.
Saturday’s fight gives Rozicki another chance to force himself into the cruiserweight picture. Billam-Smith may have home advantage, but Rozicki sounds like a fighter who has already decided a close fight won’t be enough.
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Last updated on 31/05/2026 at 19:01
