Chris Billam‑Smith will be back in his hometown of Bournemouth on June 6 for a high‑profile showdown with Canadian cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki, with the bout being broadcast live on Sky Sports. This event marks the debut of Zuffa Boxing—a rapidly growing promotional company—on British soil and its first partnership with Sky Sports for a live telecast.
The clash, billed as the headline attraction for the Zuffa Boxing 07 card, pits the local favourite Billam‑Smith against the hard‑hitting Canadian knockout specialist Rozicki. The fight will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre, a venue where Billam‑Smith has previously delivered thrilling performances in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Billam‑Smith, who holds a record of 21 wins and 2 losses with 13 victories coming by way of knockout, is one of the most accomplished British fighters of his generation.
He has amassed British, Commonwealth and European titles before capturing a world championship in 2023. His resume also includes eight fights in Bournemouth, three of which sold out the International Centre, featuring a 12‑round war against Isaac Chamberlain and a spectacular stoppage of Armend Xhoxhaj. Renowned for his exciting style, Billam‑Smith has become a staple of stadium boxing in the UK. He earned his world title by defeating Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality Stadium and later defended the WBO belt against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park.
After a setback against Gilberto Ramirez in Saudi Arabia, he rebounded with a victory over Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year. Speaking ahead of the bout, Billam‑Smith said, "I'm coming home. This is a huge opportunity for me back in front of my amazing supporters.
Sky Sports know just how incredible these fight nights are in Bournemouth and this one will be no different. Zuffa Boxing is all about proper fights under the lights and that's exactly what Rozicki brings to the table." Rozicki, hailing from Sydney Forks, Canada, carries an impressive 21‑1‑1 record with 20 wins by knockout.
Notably, his sole loss came at bridgerweight against Oscar Rivas, meaning he remains unbeaten at cruiserweight. Since that 2021 defeat, he has strung together nine consecutive victories, seven of which ended in stoppages, and 19 of his 20 knockouts have occurred within the first three rounds of a fight. The Canadian champion added, "It's a tough fight, and that's exactly what I wanted when I signed with Zuffa Boxing. I know what he brings, and I respect that.
But he hasn't been in there with someone like me. I'm focused on my work, taking it day by day, and I'll be ready on fight night. The fans are going to get a real fight." Tickets for the event will go on sale at 10 a.m. BST on Friday, May 8 via BIC.co.uk, with early‑interest registrants receiving priority access a day earlier, on Thursday, May 7.
Fans are encouraged to sign up on ZuffaBoxing.com to improve their chances of securing seats. In a pre‑fight interview with Sky Sports, Billam‑Smith expressed his excitement about returning to the BIC: "We are back in Bournemouth at the BIC and I'm so happy to be going back home. A super‑tough test but one I'm actually relishing. Look at his record – 21 wins, one draw, one defeat (that was at bridgerweight).
He brings power, 20 knockouts in those 21 wins, so you know what he comes to do. He's a big puncher, long‑armed, powerful and super‑tough.
I don't believe he's ever been dropped. I think it's a great fight to really get my teeth stuck into.
You can't have a bad night against him because of the power he carries, so I need to be on it. I feel revitalised, especially with the new deal, and there are huge fights down the line with Zuffa for me, so I'm really excited." Rozicki echoed the sentiment, saying, "June 6 I'll be coming to the UK to take on former world champion Chris Billam‑Smith in his hometown. I'm very excited for this fight. The UK has some of the most passionate boxing fans in the world, a long line of boxing history, so I'm really excited to fight there.
Very excited to take on a great champion like Billam‑Smith. I think stylistically we match up really well. It could be fight of the year.
Tune in June 6. Chris will be in the roughest fight of his life.
A lot of respect for Chris, I'm giving 110 per cent and that's it." The matchup promises a classic cruiserweight battle, featuring Billam‑Smith's technical proficiency and home‑crowd energy against Rozicki's raw power and high knockout ratio. With both fighters eager to prove themselves on a major Sky Sports platform, the bout is poised to attract considerable attention from boxing enthusiasts worldwide. For viewers, the fight will be available live on Sky Sports on Saturday, June 6.
The promotion also encourages fans to use Chrome for the most accessible video player experience. Additional content such as the Toe2Toe podcast and contract‑free streaming options on NOW are available for those looking to stay up‑to‑date on the latest boxing news and analysis.
Overall, the Billam‑Smith versus Rozicki showdown represents a pivotal moment for Zuffa Boxing's expansion into the UK market, a chance for the British champion to defend his legacy at home, and an opportunity for the Canadian knockout artist to make a statement on a global stage.