Cheavon Clarke Stops Chris Billam-Smith in Round 7

Cheavon Clarke improved to 13-2 after dropping former world champion Chris Billam-Smith twice to force a seventh-round stoppage.

Cheavon Clarke (13-2, 10 KOs) defeated former WBO world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith via seventh-round stoppage on Saturday at the Copper Box Arena in London. The 35-year-old Clarke, who is currently unranked by all major governing bodies, dropped Billam-Smith twice in the seventh frame. Referee Lee Every halted the non-title contest after the second knockdown left Billam-Smith on wobbly legs.

Clarke established control early, landing right hooks during clinches in the opening round. In the fifth, Clarke connected with a significant overhand right that forced Billam-Smith against the ropes. The decisive sequence occurred in Round 7 when Clarke landed a right hand to the temple as Billam-Smith leaned forward. Following a mandatory count, a flurry of punches sent Billam-Smith sliding across the ropes for the second knockdown.

Billam-Smith (22-3, 14 KOs) suffered his second defeat in four outings, having previously lost a unification bout to Gilberto Ramírez. The 36-year-old Bournemouth fighter stated after the match that he felt he was winning prior to the mistake that led to the stoppage. The loss jeopardizes Billam-Smith's potential 2027 matchup against Jai Opetaia.

On the undercard, Denzel Bentley (24-3-1, 18 KOs) secured a unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley Jr. in a 10-round middleweight bout. The judges scored the contest 96-94, 96-95, and 96-93 in favor of the London-based fighter. Bentley recorded the first knockdown of Mosley Jr.’s professional career in the second round with a right hand through the guard, though Mosley Jr. (23-6, 15 KOs) recovered to keep the remaining rounds competitive through high workrate.