Boxing
The Wild West boxing mayhem draws fans in, Jordan says
Simon Jordan’s opinion is refreshingly straightforward because he stops pretending that boxing needs to be “fixed” to be successful. Most people consider the lack of a central commissioner or a unified ranking system a failure, but he argues that the friction is actually the engine.
The sport does not rely on a pure league system or a set schedule to guarantee order. Titles move between sanctioning bodies. Fights fade away and reappear. Rankings are discussed rather than accepted. It would be straightforward to consider this a flaw, but that’s why there’s always another story waiting for us.
The lack of structure creates a unique type of commitment you won’t find in the NFL or NBA. In a league with a clear offseason, the conversation quiets down. In boxing, “disorder” means that there is always a need to talk about negotiations, an offer about finances or an agreement with the sanctioning body. The news cycle never ends.
Jordan is right that reputations are built in real time. Without a playoff bracket, a player’s value depends on public interest and his willingness to take risks. He is strict and as he said, nothing is guaranteed.
We spend as much time arguing about who should fight as we do watching actual fights. This debate is part of the entertainment. If every number one automatically fought every number two, we would lose months of anticipation and the “he avoids him” drama that fuels the sport’s popularity.
While chaos keeps the sport alive, it is a double-edged sword. The same “harsh” environment that Jordan admires also leads to aging stars who stay in their lanes for too long. We also see that sanctions fees drain the wallets of fighters. The best fights often happen two years later than they should.
Ultimately, Jordan believes that boxing is a survival sport. It doesn’t need a neat coat of paint or a corporate playbook, because its appeal is based on the same instability that critics hate. This is not an error; this is the main feature.
Chris Billam-Smith believes Ryan Rozicki is taking his opportunity seriously, but he doesn’t think a single training camp will make up for the years spent competing at the next level.
The former WBO cruiserweight champion will return against Rozicki in Bournemouth on Saturday, with the winner moving closer to a major fight in the division led by Jai Opetai.
Billam-Smith was asked if Rozicki truly believed he belonged at this level.
“I believe he thinks he’s been given an opportunity. He takes it very seriously and does everything he has to do. But sometimes it’s just not enough. Sometimes you’re just not good enough,” Billiam-Smith told ProBox TV.
“I think he is what he is in terms of his punching power, his physique and what he does. But sometimes there are things you can’t just incorporate in training camp. When I’ve been doing it for so long and been at the next level for so long, you can’t just make up for it in one training camp.”
Rozicki comes into the fight with a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the division and has repeatedly talked about ending the fight by knockout. Billam-Smith acknowledged the threat but believes experience will be a factor when they meet.
“He’s talked about it before: ‘I win by knockout or I get knocked out.’ So there’s no doubt in my mind that he knows he can get beat.
“But I think he thinks it’s a good opportunity.”
Saturday’s fight is Billam-Smith’s first appearance since his points win over Brandon Glanton in April 2025. A victory will put him in top cruiserweight fights, including a potential clash with Ring magazine champion Jai Opetaia.
“For me, I think he believes he has a chance and will give it his all. But the Jai Opetaia fight is the one I want at the moment. It’s the next step, but I have to take care of things on Saturday first.”
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Last update: 2026/06/04 at 11:24
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