Jack Massey has beaten Chris Billam-Smith once, and he’s convinced he can do so again.
All the way back in 2013 Massey defeated Billam-Smith to win the ABA national amateur championships in Houghton-le-Spring. But Billam-Smith overhauled him as a professional.
While Massey has won the European title and challenged for world honours, Billam-Smith is a former British, European and world champion.
Cheshire’s Massey still wants to pursue his rivalry with Billam-Smith.
“Definitely. You know he’s got a very, very tough fight himself [against Ryan Rozicki]. He’s going to have to pull off this also. But absolutely. It’s good that we’re all under this Zuffa umbrella now and we can make these 50-50 fights, these big fights, happen,” Massey told Sky Sports.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jack Massey overcame Isaac Chamberlain to pick up the European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles after a gruelling unanimous decision win.
Massey is boxing on Billam-Smith’s undercard this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, in a fiercely competitive bout against Tokyo Olympian Cheavon Clarke.
“We’ve been wanting hard fights my whole career,” Massey said. “We don’t shy away from fights. This is what sells in boxing. You don’t want to go in there with someone you’re just going to bowl over. He’s an exciting fighter, it’s a tasty fight for the fight fans. I’m No 2 in Britain, he’s No 3, it’s a domestic clash also. It’s going to be good.
“We’re big boys at this weight, everyone can punch. He is an explosive inside fighter. We’ve got to be careful. But he’s nothing we’ve not seen before.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jack Massey blasted through Steve Eloundou Ntere, shaking him up with two-punch combination before scything him down with an overarm right.
Clarke has never been stopped as a professional. But Massey warned: “We’ll see how he takes my punches.
“We’ve seen a few openings there and a few weaknesses we can work on. I’m very, very confident going into this fight.
“I won’t be looking for the knockout. But that’s when it comes. When I’m nice and relaxed and loose. Not looking for it, not loading up, then it comes with the timing and the speed.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of Joseph Parker’s competitive heavyweight win over Jack Massey in Manchester.
He added: “It’s an action packed card, two big cruiserweight fights, it’s exciting and it’s good to see some limelight on the cruiserweight division also.
“I think a lot of guys have been avoiding each other so people haven’t seen the explosiveness of the cruiserweight division. We’re basically fast heavyweights. It’s a very exciting weight class and I think people are going to be really, really excited about the cruiserweight division after this show.”
Watch Massey vs Clarke on the Billam-Smith vs Rozicki undercard on Saturday live on Sky Sports.
