Chris Billam‑Smith is slated to meet Cheavon Clarke on November 7 in a bout that will be shown live on Sky Sports. The clash heads the Zuffa Boxing 12 card, which will take place at London’s Copper Box Arena.
Both fighters are British and have been making waves in the cruiser‑weight division. Billam‑Smith, a former world champion, is eager to climb back to the top of the division after a recent setback, while Clarke has surged into the upper ranks following a dramatic comeback win over Jack Massey in June. Billam‑Smith previously headlined a Zuffa event in Bournemouth, where he earned a "fight of the year" contender slot after a thrilling showdown with Ryan Rozicki. Those victories have set the stage for this high‑stakes encounter.
The two have a shared history that stretches back over a decade. As amateurs, Clarke defeated Billam‑Smith in the finals of the national elite championships, a loss that cost Billam‑Smith a spot on Team GB. Clarke later represented Britain at the Olympic Games. Now, the former amateur rivals meet again, and Billam‑Smith is looking for redemption.
Since turning professional, Billam‑Smith has amassed an impressive résumé. He captured the British, European and Commonwealth cruiser‑weight titles before pulling off a stunning upset over Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality Stadium in his hometown of Bournemouth, seizing the WBO world title in the process. He defended that belt against seasoned contenders such as Mateusz Masternak and Richard Riakporhe before falling in a hard‑fought unification match against Gilberto Ramirez.
Clarke, too, has built a reputation for exciting, action‑packed fights. He earned the British cruiser‑weight crown by stopping Ellis Zorro and later challenged for the European belt, narrowly losing to unbeaten champion Leonardo Mosquea.
After a loss to Viddal Riley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Clarke rebounded spectacularly, twice rising from knock‑downs to finish Jack Massey in his most recent bout. The Zuffa Boxing 12 event will feature a full undercard of rising talent. Rising cruiser‑weight prospect Lucas Roehrig, who sits at 9‑0 with five knockouts, will battle Scotland’s Connal McDonald (5‑1, one KO) in an eight‑rounder.
Scottish middleweight sensation Sam Hickey (6‑0, three KOs) and American heavyweight powerhouse Da'Mazion Vanhouter (13‑0, ten KOs) will each face opponents yet to be announced in eight‑round contests. Vanhouter made a splash on the Garcia‑vs‑Benn card earlier this month, demolishing Raphael Akpejiori in the opening round.
British light‑heavyweight contender Zach Parker (26‑2, 18 KOs), a former British super‑middleweight champion, makes his Zuffa debut against unbeaten puncher Umar Dzambekov. Parker’s recent loss to Olympic bronze‑medallist Joshua Buatsi was controversial, and he now seeks to re‑establish himself. Dzambekov (14‑0, ten KOs) is a southpaw knockout artist who grew up in Austria before moving his training base to Los Angeles.
He has finished five of his last six opponents, including a devastating second‑round knockout of Ahmed Elbiali at Zuffa Boxing 03. Additional details about the event, including ticket information and any further undercard match‑ups, will be released in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to register early on ZuffaBoxing.com to improve their chances of securing tickets. The main event—Billam‑Smith versus Clarke—promises to be a compelling narrative of two seasoned professionals with intertwined pasts, each looking to prove they belong among the elite of the cruiser‑weight division.
Whether Billam‑Smith can reclaim his former glory or Clarke can cement his rise remains to be seen, but the bout is set to deliver high‑octane action for the live Sky Sports audience on November 7.