Canadian Cruiserweight Contender Ryan Rozicki Fires Warning Shot at Chris Billam-Smith Ahead of Zuffa Boxing 07 showdown on June 6
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 12 May 2026
HAMILTON, Ontario, Canada (May 11, 2026) – Canadian cruiserweight contender Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KOs) has issued a warning to Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) in advance of their June 6th showdown in Bournemouth, England.
The 10-round Smith-Billam vs. Rozicki bout will headline Zuffa Boxing’s first event in the United Kingdom, which will be held in the British fighter’s hometown.
Rozicki, 31, recently spent a week in England taking part in media and promotional activities ahead of their highly anticipated cruiserweight clash, which former world cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith stated he has no intention of approaching the fight with Rozicki the way Yamil Peralta did twice, vowing to stand and fight.
“I feel like this is a big moment for my fans, promotion and team,” Rozicki said. “I’m grateful for that but, for me, personally, it’s just another fight. Chris said he’s not going to run like Peralta did. I’m hoping he keeps his word, but he probably won’t because it sounds too good to be true. Either way, he’s in for the toughest night of his life. Fighting, not boxing, is who I am and what I’m all about!”
Three Lions Promotions managing director Daniel Otter sincerely believes Rozicki’’s constant pressure, dangerous power, and old-school mentality will be the deciding factors in this fan-friendly matchup.
“Being around Sky Sports’ promotional work for a week,” Otter added, “you could see how dialed-in Ryan was from the start. The pressure, the cameras, the attention – none of that bothered Ryan for a second.
“I think Billam-Smith and his coach, Shane McGuigan, believe they have this all figured out. They don’t! Ryan brings a kind of pressure you cannot prepare for until you are locked in the ring with him. They can talk about standing and fighting all they want, but once Ryan starts walking Billam-Smith down, we’ll see how long that lasts. You can only move for so long. As the great Joe Louis famously said, ‘You can run but you can’t hide.”
As Rozicki continues his mission to become the first Canadian-born World Cruiserweight Champion, much more is at risk because the winner of Smith-Billam vs. Rozicki will be in line to challenge Zuffa Boxing and Ring Magazine’s World Cruiserweight Champion, Jai Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs).
They are two of the highest-rated world cruiserweight contenders – Billam-Smith: #3 Ring Magazine & IBF, #4 WBC & WBA, #5 WBO; Rozicki: #1 WBC, #6 Ring Magazine, #8 WBA, #11 IBF.
Smith-Billam held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Heavyweight (Cruiserweight) World title from 2023 to 2024, in order, including victories, over 19-0 Lawrence Okolie (DEC12), 47-5 Mateusz Masternak (RTD8), and 17-0 Richard Riakporhe (DEC12) in a rematch that avenged his lone loss at that point. Smith-Billam’s crown was taken by 46-1 Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in Saudi Arabia by way of a 12-round unanimous decision (116-112 X2, 116-113), in which the tough Brit reportedly suffered a broken right thumb, fractured left hand, multiple stitches inside and outside of his left eye, along with damaged ribs.
Rozicki hasn’t fought on an international stage like he will against Billam-Smith. His only loss was in 2021, when he moved up one weight class to fight Olympian Oscar Rivas (27-1) – spotting the Colombian 20 pounds -- for the inaugural WBA Bridgerweight Championship match. Rivas won by scores of 115-112 twice and 116-111. Ryan defeated the aforementioned Peralta in 2022 by way of a 10-round split decision in addition to their 12-round majority draw in 2024.
Rozicki has never fought on an international stage like he will on June 6th in Bournemouth, which will be broadcast on Sky Sports, and this career-changing opportunity for Rozicki to make a statement that he is a major player in the cruiserweight division.
“Mark my words,” Otter predicted, “on June 6 the boxing world is going to discover one of boxing’s best kept secrets, Ryan Rozicki.”
INFORMATION:
Website: www.threelionspromotions.com
Facebook: #ThreeLionsPromotions #RyanRozickiBoxing
Instagram: @3LionsPromotions @Ryan_Rozicki
X: @RRozicki
LinkedIN: @DanielOtter
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