Honestly, I see Papin vs Billam-Smith as a clash of styles more than anything — Papin’s the big puncher, Billam-Smith the refined boxer with grit. Aleksei’s a heavy-handed guy who can change the fight in a flash, but he’s slowed down and never showed elite skills. At 37, that punch still lands—if clean—but his timing and footwork aren’t what they used to be. On the other side, Billam-Smith is a polished, motivated cruiserweight who’s fought quality opposition. He boxes smarter, moves better, and has real ambitions. I wouldn’t say he’s unbeatable, but he won’t sit and trade. He’ll use his jab, keep the Afghan range, and wait for his moment. My call: Billam-Smith by mid-rounds decision or maybe late stoppage if Papin shows too much. Papin’s power is real, but against a disciplined, well-coached guy like Chris, that’s asking for fireworks—and he might just walk into counters. Fun match-up, and a real test for Papin’s resilience. Either way, it’s gonna be a war.
CBS grinds him down and stops him. Underrated guy cos he’s not flashy - but a very tough night for anyone.
