Billam-Smith to face Rozicki in Zuffa's first UK show

Chris Billam-Smith will headline Zuffa Boxing's first UK show in Bournemouth [Getty Images]

Former world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith will headline Zuffa Boxing's first show in the UK.

'The Gentleman' will face Canadian Ryan Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on 6 June.

This will be Billam-Smith's first bout in over a year since he beat American Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 35-year-old from Dorset has previously fought at the BIC on three occasions and won a world title at AFC Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium in 2023.

Billam-Smith signed a multi-fight deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing earlier this month after previously being promoted by Ben Shalom's Boxxer.

"I'm so happy, not only to be back boxing after over a year, but to be back home," Billam-Smith told BBC Sport.

"It's Zuffa's first show in the UK and it's going to be nice to set the standard for UK shows and show them what the atmosphere is like down here.

"They'll be astounded by the amount of noise that arena can make. I got into the sport because of the atmosphere and to be the man in the arena in that noise is such an honour and I'm so grateful to my supporters."

Zuffa has previously held events in the United States and this will be their seventh show since launching their first in January.

The promotional company also have on their books cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia, someone Billam-Smith admitted he would be keen to fight in the near future.