Chris Billam-Smith Joins Zuffa Boxing as Promotion Continues Rapid Expansion Into UK Market

British cruiserweight contender Chris Billam-Smith has signed with Zuffa Boxing, the ambitious new promotional venture that has been reshaping the landscape of professional boxing since launching in early 2025.

The move, announced in conjunction with Zuffa's landmark broadcast agreement with Sky Sports, sees one of Britain's most accomplished cruiserweights join a roster that already includes some of the sport's biggest names. Billam-Smith, who held the WBO cruiserweight title from May 2023 to November 2024, becomes the latest high-profile British fighter to sign with Dana White's promotional company.

The Sky Sports deal, confirmed jointly by TKO Group Holdings and the broadcaster, makes Sky the UK and Irish home for all Zuffa Boxing events, with at least five cards per year scheduled to take place on British soil. The agreement marks a significant moment for Zuffa Boxing, which has expanded from its first Paramount+ event in January to a global operation in less than eight weeks.

Billam-Smith, from Bournemouth, has been out of action since his impressive April victory over Brandon Glanton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. After welcoming his second child late last year, the 35-year-old has returned to training and is now mapping out the next chapter of his career as a free agent following the conclusion of his previous promotional contract.

Speaking about his plans in a recent interview, Billam-Smith indicated he is open to a potential showdown with Jai Opetaia, The Ring magazine cruiserweight champion and current IBF titleholder, who also competes under the Zuffa banner. "That is a fight I would definitely be open to exploring next," Billam-Smith said. "But it's got to be something that works for me."

The undefeated Opetaia, who stopped Huseyin Cinkara in eight rounds in his most recent outing, represents arguably the biggest name in the division and a natural target for Billam-Smith's Zuffa debut.

Zuffa Boxing's rapid ascent since its January launch has been remarkable by any measure. The promotion has staged four events, signed a roster approaching 100 fighters, secured a reported $100 million annual broadcast deal in the United States, and landed the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov heavyweight bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, broadcast globally on Netflix. The addition of Billam-Smith further strengthens a cruiserweight division that now includes Opetaia as its headline attraction.

Sky Sports, which has been synonymous with British boxing for more than three decades, returns to the sport's forefront with the Zuffa partnership, having previously broadcast iconic rivalries including Nigel Benn-Chris Eubank and the careers of Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton.

Billam-Smith's first fight under the Zuffa banner is expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the promotion continues to build momentum in the UK market.