Chris Billam-Smith: The Family Man Whose Passion Remains Undiminished
This Saturday, Chris Billam-Smith will switch from the sidelines to the center of a soccer pitch. A ring will be set up on the halfway line of the turf where Tottenham Hotspur plays, and this time, he’ll be the one in the spotlight, cheered on by family and friends. It’s a role reversal that he feels deeply, especially since he often enjoys watching his son, Frank, during soccer practice.
For Billam-Smith, being a dad isn’t just another responsibility; it’s a privilege that he cherishes. Training in London with coach Shane McGuigan requires sacrifices, and he often misses out on watching his family grow. But whenever he is home, he fully embraces the everyday joys of parenting. Even something as simple as battling Friday traffic to pick up Frank from nursery fills him with excitement and warmth.
As he prepares for his fight against American boxer Brandon Glanton on April 26, the former WBO cruiserweight champion reflects on family life while in training camp, living in his apartment, and thinking about those he loves. “I just miss him so much,” he admits. Watching Frank grow is his greatest joy. Saturday mornings spent taking Frank to football, complete with a visit to the coffee shop for a “baby’s coffee” and a cookie, are the highlights of his week.
Yet, alongside the joy comes a nagging guilt. With Frank still a toddler and his wife, Mia, pregnant again, Billam-Smith recognizes that his commitment to boxing means he often leaves Mia to handle things alone. “It affects all of us as a family,” he says, acknowledging that many others have similar struggles but still feeling the weight of separation.
His success in boxing is largely attributed to his long-term partnership with McGuigan. Billam-Smith’s quest for knowledge and improvement never ceases; he’s committed to evolving as a fighter. Their work goes beyond just gym sessions. The two study fight tape, analyzing opponents’ tendencies while focusing on cultivating Billam-Smith’s strengths.
“He worries more about his fighters and what they can do,” Billam-Smith explains of McGuigan. The coach emphasizes playing to their strengths rather than solely focusing on opponents. “He’ll say things like, ‘You need to be here when he does that,’ blending our style into the fight plan.” This approach helps Billam-Smith navigate fights with confidence while still adapting strategically.
It’s crucial to remember that I’m still the same fighter who became world champion, and my goal is to add to that and keep developing.”
Billam-Smith, at 34 years old with a record of 20 wins and 2 losses (13 KOs), has been tracking his training data for years. He emphasizes that the most important indicators of his well-being come from how strong he feels during sparring and his coach’s feedback on his performance. While metrics like weights and times are useful, he pays close attention to his resting heart rate, which can drop by about 10 beats per minute to the mid-40s as he tunes up his conditioning.
He’s in a good place right now, which is why he’s focused on climbing back into contention with the WBC instead of considering retirement. Losing to Ramirez didn’t make him rethink his future in boxing; it was more about the need to regain his previous form. “I just feel I’ve got untapped potential left,” he declares. “I still have good performances left in me. I have room for improvement, and that’s how I view it.”
“If I thought I couldn’t improve from one fight to the next, I might start thinking about retirement, and so would Shane,” he adds, referring to his coach. “But if I’m still getting frustrated in training about certain things, then I know I’m still driven. That’s been our dynamic for the last eight years, and I believe Shane would see if my fire was gone, but it’s still burning strong.”
His immediate goal is to defeat Glanton and aim for the winner of the upcoming WBC bout between champion Badou Jack and champion-in-recess Noel Mikaeljan. “That feels like the most realistic route back to where I want to be,” he admits, aware of the plans for Jai Opetaia, the IBF champion, to meet WBA and WBO champion Ramirez later this year. “Both plan to fight each other, and I understand their position. They probably wouldn’t want to fight me since I don’t offer another title, and their focus is what my goal was when I was champion. This puts me a couple of fights away from the winner of that matchup, provided everything goes well.”
Currently, Billam-Smith holds the No. 4 ranking with the WBC, while Glanton stands at No. 5. This ranking is obviously important to him, as it could significantly impact his career trajectory. However, he prioritizes something even more significant—being with his family after his fight.
With over 60,000 fans expected at the stadium for the main event, Billam-Smith plans to head home as soon as he can after his bout. “I don’t intend to stay and watch the main event,” he shares. “It’s not about the fight itself; I just want to get home. If I can wrap up my fight early enough and be out of the stadium by nine or half-nine, I could make it home by midnight and see my son the next morning. My family is what truly matters to me.”
Reflecting on how his motivations have evolved, he explains, “Before, my drive was mainly for personal achievements—winning titles, headlining shows. Those were selfish goals. But now, while I still aim to win a world title again, my motivation is primarily focused on my family and securing their future.”
He continues, “My motivation hasn’t diminished; it’s just transformed. There’s more pressure now because letting my family down feels different than letting myself down.”
So, by Saturday morning, while Frank’s soccer practice will have come and gone without Chris being there, Billam-Smith hopes to take his son for a babycino and a cookie afterward.“I think a lot of times people go, ‘Oh, actually I wasn’t at that level. I’m not at that level, just because they lost a fight. It’s crucial to remember that I’m still the same fighter who became world champion, and my goal is to add to that and keep developing.”
Billam-Smith, at 34 years old with a record of 20 wins and 2 losses (13 KOs), has been tracking his training data for years. He emphasizes that the most important indicators of his well-being come from how strong he feels during sparring and his coach’s feedback on his performance. While metrics like weights and times are useful, he pays close attention to his resting heart rate, which can drop by about 10 beats per minute to the mid-40s as he tunes up his conditioning.
He’s in a good place right now, which is why he’s focused on climbing back into contention with the WBC instead of considering retirement. Losing to Ramirez didn’t make him rethink his future in boxing; it was more about the need to regain his previous form. “I just feel I’ve got untapped potential left,” he declares. “I still have good performances left in me. I have room for improvement, and that’s how I view it.”
