Rozicki believes that kind of thinking can backfire badly.
“I think it’s a mistake,” Rozicki said Sky Sports about Billam-Smith booking Opetaia before their fight is even out of the way.
“I wouldn’t say it’s disrespectful because he’s being asked the question, he’s answering the question. He’s just responding to questions, but the way he’s responding shows me that they’ve already got their eyes on Jai, they’ve already got their eyes on these bigger fights than me, and I don’t think you should ever look past someone like me.”
Rozicki’s warning centered on his punching power and Billam-Smith’s tendency to get dragged into hard-fought battles.
“If he shuts down for even a split second, then he’ll be shut down,” Rozicki said.
The Nova Scotia puncher made it clear he wasn’t thinking beyond the opening bell.
“I’m thinking about the first round against Chris and just landing punches, landing clean punches to his head. Whatever I can hit and just hitting him until the fight is over,” he said.
Billam-Smith rejected the idea that talking about Opetaia meant he was overlooking Rozicki. He argued that planning ahead is part of how he keeps himself motivated during long training camps.
“People believe that talking about future opposition is looking past an opponent. But there’s something in psychology where you also have to plan ahead,” Billam-Smith said.
The 35-year-old added that his previous fight against Brandon Glanton felt empty because he had nothing out of it.
“Whereas this fight leads to something and you can find more of yourself because you have your eye on something out there,” said Billam-Smith.
The June 6 fight in Bournemouth could decide whether Billam-Smith moves back to a title shot against Opetaia or whether Rozicki scuppers those plans before they properly begin.
