Cheavon Clarke rejects Chris Billam-Smith handshake at face-off ahead of Saturday's fight at Copper Box Arena

Cheavon Clarke rejected Chris Billam-Smith’s offer of a handshake at their live face-off interview ahead of Saturday night’s fight at the Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports.

Billam-Smith has made it clear he has a score to settle with Clarke after a painful amateur defeat in the final of the elite championships a decade ago.

They now box as professionals, headlining the Zuffa Boxing 12 event this weekend in London.

They addressed each other directly as they stated their case for victory. Clarke eventually allowed a fist bump, but wasn't willing to shake hands with the former world champion and they both stared each other out for a protracted amount of time.

Clarke beat Billam-Smith in the 2016 amateur championship final before both went on to an assessment for the GB squad. It was Clarke who progressed to the international team and ultimately the Olympic Games.

"I never stole his place. We fought, I won on the day and we both had the opportunity," Clarke said.

He did though expect, eventually, to fight Billam-Smith again as a pro. "Of course, you're going to meet at some point if you're trying to elevate yourself," Clarke said.

"It's time for us to get it on now."

Billam-Smith did go on to excel as a professional, winning the WBO world title when he upset Lawrence Okolie in 2023.

He actually believes he might never have become a world champion if hadn't lost that amateur bout to Clarke.

"I probably never would have ended up training with Shane [McGuigan]. Shane is genuinely the only coach out there that would have got the best out of me," Billam-Smith said.

Clarke impressed in his last fight, when he rose from the canvas twice to stop Jack Massey. But Billam-Smith is convinced he wouldn't have let Clarke off the hook.

"If I had Chev hurt I believe I can get rid of him," Billam-Smith said. "I believe I can hurt any cruiserweight in the world and I can get rid of any cruiserweight in the world."

But his opponent warned: "I'm Cheavon Clarke, you can't ever count me out."

Watch Billam-Smith vs Clarke on Saturday live on Sky Sports.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Cheavon Clarke rejects Chris Billam-Smith handshake at face-off ahead of Saturday's fight at Copper Box Arena