Billam-Smith to face Rozicki in Zuffa's first UK show

Former world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith will headline Zuffa Boxing's first show in the UK.

'The Gentleman' will face Canadian Ryan Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on 6 June.

This will be Billam-Smith's first bout in more than a year since he beat American Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 35-year-old from Dorset has previously fought at the BIC on three occasions and won a world title at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium in 2023.

Billam-Smith signed a multi-fight deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing earlier this month after previously being promoted by Ben Shalom's Boxxer.

"I'm so happy, not only to be back boxing after over a year, but to be back home," Billam-Smith told BBC Sport.

"It's Zuffa's first show in the UK and it's going to be nice to set the standard for UK shows and show them what the atmosphere is like down here.

"They'll be astounded by the amount of noise that arena can make. I got into the sport because of the atmosphere and to be the man in the arena in that noise is such an honour and I'm so grateful to my supporters."

Zuffa has previously held events in the United States and this will be their seventh show since launching their first in January.

The promotional company also have on their books cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia, someone Billam-Smith said he would be keen to fight in the near future.

Rozicki has 21 wins to his name, with 20 of them by knockout, with just one defeat and one draw on his record.

He has previously fought for the WBC interim cruiserweight title and this will be his first fight outside of Canada.

"He's a dangerous fighter and I've known about him for a few years," Billam-Smith added.

"His record speaks for itself; he's a huge and dangerous puncher with power in both hands, he's an unknown quantity too and this is a dangerous fight.

"But these are the fights I want now and have to get up for at this stage in my career. I have to be switched on 100%."