If Chris Billam-Smith chose boxing, then it's safe to say boxing chose his next opponent. The British cruiserweight resumes his quest to become a two-time world champion against Ryan Rozicki on the Zuffa Boxing show in Bournemouth on June 6, live on Sky Sports.

Rozicki's Inspirational Journey

Ryan Rozicki is drawing inspiration from Jack Dempsey ahead of his cruiserweight clash with Chris Billam-Smith. The two fighters sat down for a tense exchange on the latest edition of The Gloves Are Off, where Billam-Smith's persona, upbringing, and journey to the ring contrasted sharply with Rozicki's fearsome Canadian background.

While Billam-Smith grew up by the seaside on England's south coast, Rozicki's childhood was spent in a trailer park in Nova Scotia. His father turned to boxing to curb his son's penchant for street fighting. It transformed an unhealthy interest into an obsession. A young Rozicki would trawl through the annals of history for inspiration, finding particular resonance in Jack Dempsey’s infamous battering of Jess Willard in 1919.

The Philosophy of Violence

"When I saw it, at that time in my life, it was all about violence," Rozicki explained. "It was always about how much damage I could do to somebody in a street fight. But when I saw Jack Dempsey fight, the way he attacked Willard—it was just the violence he displayed in that fight."

Outright violence is the currency Rozicki trades in, having won 20 of his 21 fights by knockout. He hopes to inflict the first knockdown and knockout of Billam-Smith's career. "You have to knock someone down to knock them out," Rozicki declared. "I hope they [the crowd] appreciate the violence in a nice way. Win or lose."

Rozicki's philosophy contrasts sharply with the more technical approach often seen in modern boxing. "Because although I like boxing, and appreciate the boxers, the movement, the technique, the jab, the angles, we don't see enough of the violence—like two guys trying to actually hurt each other."