Former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has thrown his name in the hat for a future showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, should the Ukrainian legend follow through on a reported return to the 200-pound division. Billam-Smith, who is preparing for a crucial domestic clash, voiced his desire to test himself against the former undisputed king of both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
While the callout generates headlines, the prospect remains a longshot. Usyk has a slate of higher-profile options, and Billam-Smith first has an immediate and dangerous test ahead of him. He is scheduled to face Cheavon Clarke this Saturday, November 7, at London’s Copper Box Arena.
Billam-Smith’s ambition and oleksandr usyk focus
Speaking recently on talkSPORT, Billam-Smith made his intentions clear regarding the fighter many consider a generational talent. “Anyone would love to have that opportunity,” he said, acknowledging the magnitude of a potential bout with Usyk. The 36-year-old from Bournemouth believes he possesses the “style to beat him,” but any path to that fight goes directly through his next opponent.
His upcoming fight against Cheavon Clarke is more than just a comeback after losing his world title. It carries a personal history, as Clarke defeated Billam-Smith twice during their amateur careers, including in the 2016 national elite final. A convincing professional victory would not only settle an old score but is the bare minimum required to maintain his standing as a world-level contender.
A loss, or even a lackluster win, would render any talk of facing Usyk entirely academic. Billam-Smith (22-2, 14 KOs) must first re-establish his dominance and prove he belongs in the conversation with the division’s elite. His focus remains on unification, but a name like Usyk represents a career-defining payday and legacy opportunity.
Usyk’s reported plan for a final cruiserweight dance
Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs), now 39, has achieved nearly everything in the sport. After becoming the first four-belt undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018, he moved up to heavyweight and repeated the feat by defeating Tyson Fury in 2024. Having vacated his heavyweight titles after his last bout in May, a return to his “home” division is reportedly being planned for 2027.
According to his advisor, Serhii Lapin, the plan isn’t just a farewell tour but another campaign for total supremacy. The strategy is for Usyk to first target the vacant IBF cruiserweight belt. From there, the primary goal is a unification superfight against the division’s new powerhouse, David Benavidez. Benavidez’s path to Usyk is already a hotly discussed topic among boxing insiders.
This calculated approach underscores the immense challenge any other contender faces in trying to secure a fight with “The Cat.” Usyk’s team is targeting the most significant names and the most direct route to becoming a two-time undisputed cruiserweight champion, a truly historic achievement. It leaves little room for voluntary defenses against contenders outside the current title picture.
The stark commercial reality of a potential matchup
From a business standpoint, the numbers for a Billam-Smith vs. Usyk fight are difficult to justify when compared to the alternatives. Boxing at the highest level, particularly in the era of massive Saudi Arabian investment, is driven by commercial appeal.
Billam-Smith is a proven ticket-seller in the UK, capable of filling arenas in his home country, but his international profile pales in comparison to other potential opponents.
David Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) brings the backing of a huge Mexican-American fanbase and is an undefeated, two-belt champion at the weight. His aggressive style and star power promise a blockbuster event with guaranteed crossover appeal. A fight between him and Usyk isn’t just a unification; it’s a major pay-per-view spectacle.
Beyond Benavidez, Australia’s undefeated Jai Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) is widely regarded as the other truly elite fighter at 200 pounds. As the holder of The Ring magazine title, he represents a legacy fight for the purists, a genuine test of skill against a fellow master boxer. While Opetaia’s high-profile plans have sometimes hit snags, he remains a key figure in any undisputed scenario.
Even a return to heavyweight for one more night could be on the table. A trilogy fight with Tyson Fury or a long-awaited UK stadium showdown with Anthony Joshua would generate far more revenue than a cruiserweight bout against a non-champion. These commercial realities place Billam-Smith far down the pecking order.
A crowded and complex cruiserweight landscape
Usyk would be returning to a division brimming with talent and locked in a series of crucial matchups. The cruiserweight scene is currently one of the most compelling in boxing. The landscape is dominated by Benavidez, who holds the WBA and WBO belts he won in his divisional debut against Yunier Dortícos.
The division is set for a major unification bout on December 5, when Benavidez fights Michal Cieslak, the current WBC titleholder, in Arizona. The winner of that bout will hold three of the four major world titles, creating a clear and undisputed target for Usyk to pursue.
With the IBF title currently vacant, the path for Usyk to reclaim a belt and immediately enter a unification fight is clear. This leaves contenders like Billam-Smith in a difficult position. His most realistic path forward involves rebuilding, winning back a world title, and hoping to become an unavoidable mandatory challenger, a process that could take well over a year.
What’s next for ‘The Gentleman’?
For Chris Billam-Smith, all talk of future superfights is speculative until the final bell rings on Saturday night. His immediate future will be decided at the Copper Box Arena. A decisive win over Cheavon Clarke would be the first step in rebuilding the momentum he lost when he surrendered his WBO title to Gilberto Ramírez in late 2024.
Having recently signed with Zuffa Boxing, Billam-Smith is entering a new promotional phase of his career, one that could lead to new opportunities. But the path back to a world championship is arduous. He must navigate a division filled with dangerous, hungry fighters before he can realistically hope to share a ring with a legend like Oleksandr Usyk.
