Cheavon Clarke Reopens 2016 Olympic Feud With Chris Billam-Smith: "I never stole his place"

Clarke defeated Billam-Smith in the 2016 amateur elite final to secure the Great Britain international team spot that eventually led him to the Olympic Games.

A full decade has passed since that defining domestic tournament.

The bitterness between both cruiserweights has clearly not faded with time.

That lingering animosity erupted during a tense face-off ahead of their showdown at London's Copper Box Arena.

Billam-Smith extended a hand in a traditional sporting gesture during their live interview.

Clarke refused to take it.

The snub was deliberate, immediate, and visible to everyone watching.

Clarke eventually allowed a cold fist bump instead.

The two British rivals then locked eyes in a protracted, hostile staredown.

Neither man broke gaze as the silence amplified the bad blood between them.

When they finally spoke, the discussion immediately pivoted back ten years to the amateur ring.

A SINGLE BOUT THAT ALTERED TWO CAREERS

Back in 2016, both men met in the final of the national elite amateur championships.

That bout carried monumental stakes for both aspiring fighters.

Clarke walked away with the victory on the judges' scorecards.

Following that tournament, both men advanced to an assessment for the prestigious Great Britain squad.

Only Clarke secured selection for the international team.

That selection paved his direct road to the Olympic Games.

Billam-Smith has never completely let go of the disappointment of that loss.

The Bournemouth fighter entered fight week making it clear he has an old score to settle.

Clarke, however, dismissed any notion that he had taken something that belonged to his opponent.

"I never stole his place. We fought, I won on the day and we both had the opportunity," Clarke said.

Clarke always anticipated their paths would cross again on the professional circuit.

"Of course, you're going to meet at some point if you're trying to elevate yourself," Clarke said.

He made his intentions crystal clear for Saturday night.

"It's time for us to get it on now."

A LOSS THAT FORGED A WORLD CHAMPION

While Clarke took the Olympic stage, Billam-Smith took a different road to boxing prominence.

Billam-Smith transitioned into the professional ranks and slowly climbed the cruiserweight ladder.

He achieved his ultimate dream in 2023 by defeating Lawrence Okolie to claim the WBO cruiserweight world title.

Billam-Smith now reflects on that 2016 amateur defeat as an essential turning point in his life.

Without that setback, his corner might look entirely different today.

"I probably never would have ended up training with Shane [McGuigan]. Shane is genuinely the only coach out there that would have got the best out of me," Billam-Smith said.

Under McGuigan's guidance, Billam-Smith captured British, Commonwealth, European, and world honors.

He credits that long coaching partnership with turning him into an elite world champion.

Yet the memory of losing out to Clarke still burns beneath the surface.

CLASH OF STYLES AND UNMATCHED WILL

Both men enter this weekend's contest with huge domestic reputations and devastating power.

Clarke arrives with serious momentum after a thrilling display of heart in his last outing.

In that contest, Clarke was dropped to the canvas twice by tough contender Jack Massey.

Clarke beat the count on both occasions.

He rallied back fiercely to halt Massey inside the distance.

That dramatic recovery showed Clarke's iron determination under maximum pressure.

Billam-Smith watched that performance closely and took note of Clarke's vulnerabilities.

The former WBO world champion warned that he would finish the job if presented with a similar opportunity.