{"id":8820,"date":"2023-12-10T06:14:57","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T11:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/chris-billam-smith-calling-me-the-gentleman-is-ironic-im-vicious-when-i-step-through-the-ropes-boxing-news\/10\/12\/2023\/"},"modified":"2023-12-10T06:14:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T11:14:58","slug":"chris-billam-smith-calling-me-the-gentleman-is-ironic-im-vicious-when-i-step-through-the-ropes-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/chris-billam-smith-calling-me-the-gentleman-is-ironic-im-vicious-when-i-step-through-the-ropes-boxing-news\/10\/12\/2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Billam-Smith: Calling me the &#8216;Gentleman&#8217; is ironic &#8211; I&#8217;m vicious when I step through the ropes | Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"sdc-article-body\" data-highlight-intro=\"true\">\n<p>When Chris Billam-Smith declined to shake Mateusz Masternak\u2019s hand after their weigh-in, it was a hint of his mindset going into this fight.<\/p>\n<p>He might be known as &#8220;The Gentleman&#8221; but for tonight&#8217;s WBO cruiserweight world title fight against Masternak he has bad intentions.<\/p>\n<p>Billam-Smith wants to accomplish something no one expects. Something that world champions Tony Bellew and Yuniel Dorticos could not do. He believes he can drop and stop Mateusz Masternak.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn\" data-account-id=\"6057984924001\" data-amp-iframe-embed=\"\" data-asset-id=\"58d8d3d5-5769-40e6-ba03-33ca250cb122\" data-asset-path=\"\" data-asset-version=\"\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-auth-config=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.condatis.sky\/auth\/video\/token&quot;,&quot;tokenRequired&quot;:true,&quot;fetchMethod&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;fetchOptions&quot;:{&quot;encoded&quot;:true},&quot;headers&quot;:{&quot;X-SkyGDP-Proposition&quot;:&quot;sportweb&quot;,&quot;X-SkyGDP-Territory&quot;:&quot;GB&quot;,&quot;Authorization&quot;:&quot;OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA=&quot;}}\" data-caption=\"Chris Billam-Smith refused to shake the hand of Mateusz Masternak during a very intense face-off\" data-clip-type=\"\" data-component-name=\"sdc-site-video\" data-competition=\"\" data-copy-url-text=\"URL copied to clipboard\" data-fn=\"sdc-site-video\" data-id=\"id_58d8d3d5-5769-40e6-ba03-33ca250cb122\" data-is-live-stream=\"false\" data-lite=\"true\" data-options=\"\" data-originator-id=\"49\" data-originator-handle=\"brightcove-sport-gb\" data-package-name=\"\" data-provider=\"brightcove\" data-player-id=\"DESF5xFjJ\" data-playsinline=\"\" data-sensitive=\"false\" data-sdc-id=\"6387407\" data-sdc-video-id=\"58d8d3d5-5769-40e6-ba03-33ca250cb122\" data-sport-category=\"\" data-state=\"loading\" data-token-state=\"none\" data-video-ad-unit=\"videoplayer\" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=\"\" data-video-id=\"ref:58d8d3d5-5769-40e6-ba03-33ca250cb122\" data-video-type=\"\" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-closed-captions-position=\"\" data-show-closed-captions=\"true\" data-show-pip=\"\" data-show-live-stream-scrubber=\"\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__inner\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__content\" data-role=\"bridge-controller\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ ());\">\n<p class=\"sdc-site-video__accessibility-message\" data-role=\"accessibility-message\">Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n<p>              <span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-role=\"poster\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster\"><\/p>\n<p>              <span class=\"sdc-site-video__loader\"\/><\/p>\n<p>              <\/span><\/p>\n<p>              <video id=\"id_58d8d3d5-5769-40e6-ba03-33ca250cb122\" data-embed=\"default\" data-application-id=\"\" class=\"video-js sdc-site-video__tag\" controls=\"\" playsinline=\"\"\/>\n            <\/div><figcaption class=\"sdc-site-video__caption ui-media-caption\">\n<p>              <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\">Chris Billam-Smith refused to shake the hand of Mateusz Masternak during a very intense face-off<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Polish challenger has only been stopped once in his long, 52-fight career and that was more than 10 years ago against Grigory Drozd in Russia.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just feeling supremely confident at the moment and believe I can be the first man to stop him or drop him and get rid of him early,&#8221; Billam-Smith told <em>Sky Sports<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t fake true confidence and that comes from the work you put in. I always leave no stone unturned. I&#8217;ve improved so much in the way I&#8217;ve developed in training in the last year and a bit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn\" data-account-id=\"6057984924001\" data-amp-iframe-embed=\"\" data-asset-id=\"06b7ae50-7e93-45a3-bc6a-e266919c0f86\" data-asset-path=\"\" data-asset-version=\"\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-auth-config=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.condatis.sky\/auth\/video\/token&quot;,&quot;tokenRequired&quot;:true,&quot;fetchMethod&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;fetchOptions&quot;:{&quot;encoded&quot;:true},&quot;headers&quot;:{&quot;X-SkyGDP-Proposition&quot;:&quot;sportweb&quot;,&quot;X-SkyGDP-Territory&quot;:&quot;GB&quot;,&quot;Authorization&quot;:&quot;OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA=&quot;}}\" data-caption=\"Chris Billam-Smith's trainer Shane McGuigan says his fighter can't afford to be complacent as he defends his WBO cruiserweight title for the first time against Mateusz Masternak\" data-clip-type=\"\" data-component-name=\"sdc-site-video\" data-competition=\"\" data-copy-url-text=\"URL copied to clipboard\" data-fn=\"sdc-site-video\" data-id=\"id_06b7ae50-7e93-45a3-bc6a-e266919c0f86\" data-is-live-stream=\"false\" data-lite=\"true\" data-options=\"\" data-originator-id=\"49\" data-originator-handle=\"brightcove-sport-gb\" data-package-name=\"\" data-provider=\"brightcove\" data-player-id=\"DESF5xFjJ\" data-playsinline=\"\" data-sensitive=\"false\" data-sdc-id=\"6386939\" data-sdc-video-id=\"06b7ae50-7e93-45a3-bc6a-e266919c0f86\" data-sport-category=\"\" data-state=\"loading\" data-token-state=\"none\" data-video-ad-unit=\"videoplayer\" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=\"\" data-video-id=\"ref:06b7ae50-7e93-45a3-bc6a-e266919c0f86\" data-video-type=\"\" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-closed-captions-position=\"\" data-show-closed-captions=\"true\" data-show-pip=\"\" data-show-live-stream-scrubber=\"\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__inner\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__content\" data-role=\"bridge-controller\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ ());\">\n<p class=\"sdc-site-video__accessibility-message\" data-role=\"accessibility-message\">Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n<p>              <span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-role=\"poster\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster\"><br \/>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display:block\" class=\"lazyload\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=75&resize=75 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=100&resize=100 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=150&resize=150 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=240&resize=240 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=320&resize=320 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=500&resize=500 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=640&resize=640 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=800&resize=800 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=1280&resize=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?w=1600&resize=1600 1600w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg 600w,https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/1600x900\/ee0d9bf7cde0fc17b1504d81167186a15ff9299095904ae5e906f96b5698f997_6386943.jpg?20231208190850\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster-img\"\/><br \/>\n              <span class=\"sdc-site-video__loader\"\/><\/p>\n<p>              <\/span><\/p>\n<p>              <video id=\"id_06b7ae50-7e93-45a3-bc6a-e266919c0f86\" data-embed=\"default\" data-application-id=\"\" class=\"video-js sdc-site-video__tag\" controls=\"\" playsinline=\"\"\/>\n            <\/div><figcaption class=\"sdc-site-video__caption ui-media-caption\">\n<p>              <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\">Chris Billam-Smith&#8217;s trainer Shane McGuigan says his fighter can&#8217;t afford to be complacent as he defends his WBO cruiserweight title for the first time against Mateusz Masternak<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a true inner confidence that comes from all the work I&#8217;ve put in and the way I live my life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Billam-Smith has been training with purpose. Rumour has it he has been hurting sparring partners.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve doing some good work in sparring,&#8221; he said with some understatement.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I like my nickname &#8220;The Gentleman.&#8221; It&#8217;s ironic because one thing you can&#8217;t be in a boxing ring is a gentleman.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now people know what I&#8217;m about in the ring, they&#8217;ve seen it. I&#8217;m a savage in the ring and that is just my mindset. I flick a switch on fight night, or in sparring or whatever it is. As soon as I climb through the ropes I&#8217;m a different person.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn\" data-account-id=\"6057984924001\" data-amp-iframe-embed=\"\" data-asset-id=\"82dfeb67-852a-4303-8dd0-fc44a2138fac\" data-asset-path=\"\" data-asset-version=\"\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-auth-config=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.condatis.sky\/auth\/video\/token&quot;,&quot;tokenRequired&quot;:true,&quot;fetchMethod&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;fetchOptions&quot;:{&quot;encoded&quot;:true},&quot;headers&quot;:{&quot;X-SkyGDP-Proposition&quot;:&quot;sportweb&quot;,&quot;X-SkyGDP-Territory&quot;:&quot;GB&quot;,&quot;Authorization&quot;:&quot;OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA=&quot;}}\" data-caption=\"Chris Billam-Smith says people are making a big mistake by writing off Mateusz Masternak and he has prepared for a very tough night on Sunday\" data-clip-type=\"\" data-component-name=\"sdc-site-video\" data-competition=\"\" data-copy-url-text=\"URL copied to clipboard\" data-fn=\"sdc-site-video\" data-id=\"id_82dfeb67-852a-4303-8dd0-fc44a2138fac\" data-is-live-stream=\"false\" data-lite=\"true\" data-options=\"\" data-originator-id=\"49\" data-originator-handle=\"brightcove-sport-gb\" data-package-name=\"\" data-provider=\"brightcove\" data-player-id=\"DESF5xFjJ\" data-playsinline=\"\" data-sensitive=\"false\" data-sdc-id=\"6385837\" data-sdc-video-id=\"82dfeb67-852a-4303-8dd0-fc44a2138fac\" data-sport-category=\"\" data-state=\"loading\" data-token-state=\"none\" data-video-ad-unit=\"videoplayer\" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=\"\" data-video-id=\"ref:82dfeb67-852a-4303-8dd0-fc44a2138fac\" data-video-type=\"\" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-closed-captions-position=\"\" data-show-closed-captions=\"true\" data-show-pip=\"\" data-show-live-stream-scrubber=\"\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__inner\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__content\" data-role=\"bridge-controller\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ ());\">\n<p class=\"sdc-site-video__accessibility-message\" data-role=\"accessibility-message\">Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n<p>              <span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-role=\"poster\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster\"><br \/>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display:block\" class=\"lazyload\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=75&resize=75 75w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=100&resize=100 100w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=150&resize=150 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=240&resize=240 240w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=320&resize=320 320w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=500&resize=500 500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=640&resize=640 640w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=800&resize=800 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=1280&resize=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?w=1600&resize=1600 1600w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg\" alt=\"Boxing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg 600w,https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/1600x900\/skysports-masternak-billam-smith_6385857.jpg?20231207184858\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster-img\"\/><br \/>\n              <span class=\"sdc-site-video__loader\"\/><\/p>\n<p>              <\/span><\/p>\n<p>              <video id=\"id_82dfeb67-852a-4303-8dd0-fc44a2138fac\" data-embed=\"default\" data-application-id=\"\" class=\"video-js sdc-site-video__tag\" controls=\"\" playsinline=\"\"\/>\n            <\/div><figcaption class=\"sdc-site-video__caption ui-media-caption\">\n<p>              <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\">Chris Billam-Smith says people are making a big mistake by writing off Mateusz Masternak and he has prepared for a very tough night on Sunday<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>He knows though how formidable Masternak can be. The Pole has had considerably more knockout victories than Billam-Smith has had fights.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The last fights he lost were Dorticos and Bellew. Both went on to win world titles after he&#8217;d boxed them. Both fights there were two or three points in it,&#8221; Billam-Smith said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everyone knows who Tony Bellew is. Dorticos was IBF champion and had been in phenomenal fights, 24 knockouts in 26 wins.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;So it goes to show the level of Masternak and where he&#8217;s at. It&#8217;s a tough night&#8217;s work for sure.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Given that this is the first actual world title shot of Masternak&#8217;s career, the fight he has spent so long striving for, the Pole will be more motivated than ever.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn\" data-account-id=\"6057984924001\" data-amp-iframe-embed=\"\" data-asset-id=\"cc623ac2-eaa9-46e6-bf4f-d8a2a4c02a9b\" data-asset-path=\"\" data-asset-version=\"\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-auth-config=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.condatis.sky\/auth\/video\/token&quot;,&quot;tokenRequired&quot;:true,&quot;fetchMethod&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;fetchOptions&quot;:{&quot;encoded&quot;:true},&quot;headers&quot;:{&quot;X-SkyGDP-Proposition&quot;:&quot;sportweb&quot;,&quot;X-SkyGDP-Territory&quot;:&quot;GB&quot;,&quot;Authorization&quot;:&quot;OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA=&quot;}}\" data-caption=\"Chris Billam-Smith and Mateusz Masternak have faced off ahead of Sunday\u2019s world title fight which will see Billam-Smith put his WBO world cruiserweight belt on the line\" data-clip-type=\"\" data-component-name=\"sdc-site-video\" data-competition=\"\" data-copy-url-text=\"URL copied to clipboard\" data-fn=\"sdc-site-video\" data-id=\"id_cc623ac2-eaa9-46e6-bf4f-d8a2a4c02a9b\" data-is-live-stream=\"false\" data-lite=\"true\" data-options=\"\" data-originator-id=\"49\" data-originator-handle=\"brightcove-sport-gb\" data-package-name=\"\" data-provider=\"brightcove\" data-player-id=\"DESF5xFjJ\" data-playsinline=\"\" data-sensitive=\"false\" data-sdc-id=\"6385524\" data-sdc-video-id=\"cc623ac2-eaa9-46e6-bf4f-d8a2a4c02a9b\" data-sport-category=\"\" data-state=\"loading\" data-token-state=\"none\" data-video-ad-unit=\"videoplayer\" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=\"\" data-video-id=\"ref:cc623ac2-eaa9-46e6-bf4f-d8a2a4c02a9b\" data-video-type=\"\" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-closed-captions-position=\"\" data-show-closed-captions=\"true\" data-show-pip=\"\" data-show-live-stream-scrubber=\"\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__inner\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__content\" data-role=\"bridge-controller\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ ());\">\n<p class=\"sdc-site-video__accessibility-message\" data-role=\"accessibility-message\">Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n<p>              <span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-role=\"poster\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster\"><br \/>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display:block\" class=\"lazyload\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=75&resize=75 75w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=100&resize=100 100w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=150&resize=150 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=240&resize=240 240w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=320&resize=320 320w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=500&resize=500 500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=640&resize=640 640w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=800&resize=800 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=1280&resize=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?w=1600&resize=1600 1600w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg\" alt=\"CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg 600w,https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/1600x900\/sky-sports-billam-smith-chris_6385530.jpg?20231207133738\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster-img\"\/><br \/>\n              <span class=\"sdc-site-video__loader\"\/><\/p>\n<p>              <\/span><\/p>\n<p>              <video id=\"id_cc623ac2-eaa9-46e6-bf4f-d8a2a4c02a9b\" data-embed=\"default\" data-application-id=\"\" class=\"video-js sdc-site-video__tag\" controls=\"\" playsinline=\"\"\/>\n            <\/div><figcaption class=\"sdc-site-video__caption ui-media-caption\">\n<p>              <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\">Chris Billam-Smith and Mateusz Masternak have faced off ahead of Sunday\u2019s world title fight which will see Billam-Smith put his WBO world cruiserweight belt on the line<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m aware of the test in front of me,&#8221; Billam-Smith said. &#8220;There&#8217;s not going to be any resting in this fight.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you look at his career it&#8217;s a phenomenal career and the fights he has lost and how close they are, it&#8217;s crazy.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I know my level and where I&#8217;m at and haven&#8217;t been fully able to show it in recent performances. But I think Sunday we&#8217;ll see the very, very best version,&#8221; he promised.<\/p>\n<p>He might need that to win.<\/p>\n<p>Billam-Smith may have achieved his dream when he beat Lawrence Okolie to win the title. But he remains driven. &#8220;I&#8217;m still underrated as a world champion,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I want to prove that I&#8217;m number one in the world.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn\" data-account-id=\"6057984924001\" data-amp-iframe-embed=\"\" data-asset-id=\"fe0b76f1-a65b-4965-baf5-b5e56651ba15\" data-asset-path=\"\" data-asset-version=\"\" data-autoplay=\"false\" data-auth-config=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.condatis.sky\/auth\/video\/token&quot;,&quot;tokenRequired&quot;:true,&quot;fetchMethod&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;fetchOptions&quot;:{&quot;encoded&quot;:true},&quot;headers&quot;:{&quot;X-SkyGDP-Proposition&quot;:&quot;sportweb&quot;,&quot;X-SkyGDP-Territory&quot;:&quot;GB&quot;,&quot;Authorization&quot;:&quot;OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA=&quot;}}\" data-caption=\"Adam Azim says Chris Billam-Smith has been showing devastating power in the gym and predicts he will knockout Mateusz Masternak\" data-clip-type=\"\" data-component-name=\"sdc-site-video\" data-competition=\"\" data-copy-url-text=\"URL copied to clipboard\" data-fn=\"sdc-site-video\" data-id=\"id_fe0b76f1-a65b-4965-baf5-b5e56651ba15\" data-is-live-stream=\"false\" data-lite=\"true\" data-options=\"\" data-originator-id=\"49\" data-originator-handle=\"brightcove-sport-gb\" data-package-name=\"\" data-provider=\"brightcove\" data-player-id=\"DESF5xFjJ\" data-playsinline=\"\" data-sensitive=\"false\" data-sdc-id=\"6383206\" data-sdc-video-id=\"fe0b76f1-a65b-4965-baf5-b5e56651ba15\" data-sport-category=\"\" data-state=\"loading\" data-token-state=\"none\" data-video-ad-unit=\"videoplayer\" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=\"\" data-video-id=\"ref:fe0b76f1-a65b-4965-baf5-b5e56651ba15\" data-video-type=\"\" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-closed-captions-position=\"\" data-show-closed-captions=\"true\" data-show-pip=\"\" data-show-live-stream-scrubber=\"\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__inner\">\n<div class=\"sdc-site-video__content\" data-role=\"bridge-controller\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ ());\">\n<p class=\"sdc-site-video__accessibility-message\" data-role=\"accessibility-message\">Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n<p>              <span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-role=\"poster\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster\"><br \/>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display:block\" class=\"lazyload\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=75&resize=75 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=100&resize=100 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=150&resize=150 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=240&resize=240 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=320&resize=320 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=500&resize=500 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=640&resize=640 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=800&resize=800 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=1280&resize=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?w=1600&resize=1600 1600w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg\" alt=\"Chris Billam-Smith celebrates after his victory against Lawrence Okolie in the WBO world cruiserweight title bout at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. Picture date: Saturday May 27, 2023.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg 600w,https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/1600x900\/skysports-chris-billam-smith_6383228.jpg?20231205170629\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sdc-site-video__poster-img\"\/><br \/>\n              <span class=\"sdc-site-video__loader\"\/><\/p>\n<p>              <\/span><\/p>\n<p>              <video id=\"id_fe0b76f1-a65b-4965-baf5-b5e56651ba15\" data-embed=\"default\" data-application-id=\"\" class=\"video-js sdc-site-video__tag\" controls=\"\" playsinline=\"\"\/>\n            <\/div><figcaption class=\"sdc-site-video__caption ui-media-caption\">\n<p>              <span class=\"ui-media-caption__caption-text\" data-role=\"caption-text\">Adam Azim says Chris Billam-Smith has been showing devastating power in the gym and predicts he will knockout Mateusz Masternak<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;So there&#8217;s improvements to be made in my own work but also in other people&#8217;s opinions. You&#8217;re not always going to change everyone&#8217;s opinions but you can at least fight the best fighters out there and prove yourself and people won&#8217;t have much to say then,&#8221; he continued.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s my aim for next year to win, look good on Sunday and move on to fighting big names and people who other people think I can&#8217;t beat. So that&#8217;s the plan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He promises a to deliver a performance that will &#8220;send a message to the entire cruiserweight division.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think people will be licking their lips after Sunday&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak live on<em> Sky Sports Arena <\/em>from 6pm on Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/boxing\/news\/12040\/13027177\/chris-billam-smith-calling-me-the-gentleman-is-ironic-im-vicious-when-i-step-through-the-ropes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Chris Billam-Smith declined to shake Mateusz Masternak&rsquo;s hand after their weigh-in, it was a hint of his mindset going into this<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/chris-billam-smith-calling-me-the-gentleman-is-ironic-im-vicious-when-i-step-through-the-ropes-boxing-news\/10\/12\/2023\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[213],"tags":[2611,354,1441,23,822,3417,33,3419,900,3418],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8820"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8822,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8820\/revisions\/8822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}