Chev Clarke stops Chris Billam-Smith in seventh round at Copper Box

Chev Clarke stopped former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith in the seventh round of their non-title fight at London's Copper Box arena on Saturday. BBC Sport reported that Billam-Smith suffered the first stoppage defeat of his professional career after being knocked down twice during the decisive round.

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Clarke began the seventh with a right hand that sent Billam-Smith to the canvas. The Bournemouth boxer got up before the count ended, but a further attack put him down again. He was permitted to continue for a second time before two more punches from Clarke prompted the referee to end the contest.

Billam-Smith immediately objected to the intervention, while Clarke responded by shrugging in the centre of the ring. According to the BBC report, promoter Dana White also questioned the timing, saying afterwards that the stoppage might have come slightly too early. That assessment did not change the result of the all-British contest.

The finish followed several rounds in which Clarke had found openings against the former champion. After an opening marked by holding, he connected with an overhand right in the second round. An uppercut and another right hand followed in the third as Billam-Smith struggled to establish a rhythm. Billam-Smith did have a response, landing a short right hook that sent Clarke stumbling back towards his corner.

Clarke's professional record now stands at 13 wins and two defeats. He had also beaten Billam-Smith as an amateur a decade earlier. For Billam-Smith, this was a third professional loss, following defeats by Richard Riakporhe in 2019 and Gilberto Ramirez in 2024. Clarke credited his preparation afterwards and said he was willing to take on any opponent next.

On the same card, Denzel Bentley earned a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley Jr in the main supporting contest. Bentley knocked the American down in the second round, first hurting him with a straight right and then landing another right to put him on the floor. Mosley recovered to complete the round and ultimately the fight.

Bentley continued to land throughout the bout and opened a cut above Mosley's right eye in the fifth round. After 10 rounds, the judges returned scores of 96-94, 96-93 and 95-94 for Bentley. He then pointed towards Conor Benn in the audience and suggested a possible meeting, rather than announcing a confirmed fight.