Ryan Rozicki rages after weigh-in and accuses Chris Billam-Smith of 'looking terrible' ahead of Bournemouth showdown
Ryan Rozicki has accused Chris Billam-Smith of "looking terrible" at their weigh-in, claiming some "magic" took place on the scales as both fighters came in at exactly the required 200lb cruiserweight limit.
Britain's Billam-Smith fights Canadian Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Centre on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
The bout will see 35-year-old Billam-Smith return to the ring after a 14-month absence to headline Zuffa Boxing 07 - their first numbered event outside the United States - facing hard-hitting Rozicki in a 10-round clash. On Friday, though, Rozicki cut a hugely frustrated tone.
"There was no weight cut," Rozicki told Sky Sports. "I checked my weight at the hotel just before I came over here, I was 196lbs. And then they said on the scale I was 200lbs, and apparently Chris was 201lbs.
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"Then they did some magic on the scale, and then he was 200lbs. There's something going on, obviously. It's not the real weight.
"Chris looked terrible. He looked like he had a really hard time cutting weight.
"Like I said, I didn't cut weight. I actually ate last night before bed. I woke up and weighed in."
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At Friday's ceremonial weigh-in later in the day, tension was still visible between the two fighters as an intense stare down was only ended when Zuffa Boxing's Dana White stepped in to intervene.
"I'm ready to fight and I'm not here to talk anymore," Rozicki said. "Let's go.
"Who did I bully? What the **** is he talking about?
"I've shown him [Billam-Smith] nothing but respect, I don't know what the **** his coach is talking about.
"Out of respect, I'm going to do what I do. It's going to be a great fight, he's a good fighter. We'll see what happens."
Earlier, Rozicki had added he and his team may look to protest the events of the weigh-in. However, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) later officially ruled the weight was correct so a protest will not be possible.
"I've got one job to do tomorrow night. My team will probably protest that, because everybody that was there saw it," Rozicki said.
"For me, it changes nothing. I've fought heavyweight, I've fought cruiserweight, bridgerweight. So for me, it's nothing. That's really his problem.
"I'm switched on."
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Sky Sports Boxing's Andy Clarke explains the discrepancy on the scales...
"They were using analogue scales and generally speaking, the British Boxing Board of Control will use digital scales, which are a lot simpler.
"Sometimes you have to wait for the readout to settle slightly, but it's a lot simpler. With analogue scales, it's basically like a spirit level that you have to counterbalance and you have to add weights and take weights away and let the whole thing settle.
"It's quite fiddly and if you're not used to doing it, it's quite difficult.
"Basically what happened was they called out a weight of 201lbs before it had completely settled for Chris Billam-Smith. They jumped the gun a bit and then the supervisor came over and said: 'Look, it hasn't settled.'
"They waited for it to settle and then it was 200lbs, and that's the weight that was announced.
"There's nothing to see here as far as the British Boxing Board of Control are concerned. But of course, if you're Rozicki, you latch onto these things and you get a hold of them and you try and rinse them for all that they're worth.
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"But it is very entertaining to hear him basically say that essentially the scales were wrong for him and then a few seconds later when nothing had changed, they were correct for Billam-Smith. Because that's fighters, isn't it?
"He used the information to suit himself, but wouldn't accept the other side of it at all. But that's what you have to deal with during fight week."
Billam-Smith speaking to Sky Sports following Friday's ceremonial weigh-in:
"Boxing at home is an honour. It's unbelievable, I love it. We know what happens when I box at home, we know what this venue brings. I'm ready to go.
"I'm glad he's [Rozicki] here because he's got a lot about him. He's got a great record. It's a fight that gets me switched on, that's why you'll see the best of me tomorrow [Saturday].
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"You've seen enough of these [ceremonial weigh-ins] by now. You know me. We're here now, and we're ready to go.
"It's my honour to have such a great fan base, it really is. I hope I entertain you all tomorrow night. We'll bring the win home again."
Watch Zuffa Boxing 07 live on Sky Sports, with early coverage streamed from 5pm ahead of live action on Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One from 7pm. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.
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6 of June 2026
