“I didn’t really like boxing at the time,” Billiam-Smith told TalkSport. “It was just a stepping stone fight. I felt comfortable there and I did what I had to do, but the boxing wasn’t even close to my best.”
The change he describes did not occur as a result of a single turning point. Instead, there was the decline that often follows a high-profile failure. He went from being a headliner to fighting earlier on the card and admitted that the loss affected his approach to the night.
The decline from main events to earlier events and all that comes with it was something he felt during his preparation and carried over into the ring.
This version of Billiam-Smith was still good enough to win clearly, but not keen enough to leave any mark. He said he wanted a break, especially after Glanton’s pre-fight comments, but he never forced the issue. By his own description, the performance was consistent with his way of thinking.
Billiam-Smith said these months allowed him to withdraw from the cycle of camps and fights, fix technical issues and return to training in a better place physically and mentally. He believes that next time he will fight in a different version.
“I feel reinvigorated. I truly believe that the next time I step into the ring, a fresh version of me will emerge,” he said.
He currently has no promoter or confirmed opponent, making his return contingent on what opportunities can be built rather than what can be demanded. His goal is to return in May, but the future direction remains open.
Billiam-Smith, 35, still talks like a fighter who sees himself near the top of the division, even claiming he considers himself the best cruiserweight in the world. This claim comes during a period in which he was largely passive and, as he says, not fully committed to his final performance.
The next fight will have to show more than just victory. He must show that the version he describes is true and not just a reaction to the passage of time.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most crucial fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.