Cheavon Clarke’s seventh-round victory over Chris Billam-Smith at the Copper Box Arena in London ended with the beaten fighter on his feet and protesting, and with the Billam-Smith stoppage under scrutiny from promoter Dana White. Referee Lee Every waved the contest off after Clarke had sent Billam-Smith to the canvas twice in the round, but Billam-Smith shook his head as the decision was made. It was the first time he had been dropped in his professional career, let alone stopped.
White, the Zuffa Boxing promoter, said he felt the finish came too soon. He also acknowledged that only Billam-Smith could say definitively whether he had been given enough time to recover. The former WBO world champion had never before found himself in such a position, and his reaction made clear he believed he could have continued.
Clarke backs referee's judgment
Clarke took the opposite view, arguing that Billam-Smith was in serious trouble and that the referee had acted correctly. He rejected the idea that Billam-Smith had been defending himself adequately, suggesting that if the former champion had been blocking punches he would not have been hurt in the way he was. Clarke also raised the question of how the outcome would have been judged had he been allowed to land more shots on a wounded opponent.
The win followed Clarke’s previous fight, in which he had risen from the canvas twice before stopping Jack Massey. Clarke said Billam-Smith had been in a worse condition than Massey when their fight was halted, using that comparison to support Every’s decision.
Nelson: Billam-Smith must assess appetite and direction
Sky Sports boxing expert and former world champion Johnny Nelson focused on what comes next for Billam-Smith. He noted that Billam-Smith’s coach, Shane McGuigan, had previously expressed unhappiness about how often his fighter gets hit. Nelson said Billam-Smith needed to consider whether anything could be changed, and described the key questions as ones of appetite and direction.
Nelson added that Billam-Smith had already achieved everything available to him as a professional. He framed the decision ahead as a personal one: whether Billam-Smith wants to pursue another fight with Clarke, or whether Clarke will remain a difficult opponent for him. Nelson did not offer a prediction, instead identifying the choice as one only Billam-Smith can make.
Domestic ambitions for Clarke
For Clarke, Nelson recommended another British opponent next. He said Clarke should clear out the domestic level to establish himself as the top cruiserweight in the UK. Nelson also cautioned that the world scene contains bigger and stronger fighters who would present Clarke with serious problems.
Nelson credited Clarke with having both the energy and the appetite to continue his run, and said he should enjoy the victory. The win over Billam-Smith gave Clarke a second consecutive notable stoppage and left the former world champion facing questions about his future in the sport.
