IT IS one week until Chris Billam-Smith will take aim at bringing the WBA cruiserweight title back to Bournemouth to add to his WBO title.

‘The Gentleman’ heads to Saudi Arabia for the fight against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in Riyadh next Saturday.

Billam-Smith spoke to the Daily Echo before flying out after a ‘long and arduous’ camp in preparation for the fight.

His opponent is a southpaw, so much of his training has focused on preparation for that, something he says he doesn't have much experience against.

“That's been really good work for me and the adjustments through camp have been really good, so I’m really pleased with how the camp's gone on the right trajectory really,” Billam-Smith told the Daily Echo.

“I’m just looking forward to the fight week now, really, last few days at camp and looking forward to fight week.”

(Image: Stuart Martin) The fight will be the 34-year-old’s first professional fight abroad, with Billam-Smith explaining he’s ready for a different atmosphere.

“I've experienced lots of different atmospheres in the UK because I boxed in lockdown, but I've also boxed obviously at home in front of home crowds,” he said.

“I think I'm prepared for anything. There's not going to be the usual amount of Bournemouth fans there would be at a Bournemouth fight, so I imagine it won't be as loud as I'm used to.

“There's still a small group coming over so yeah, I'm looking forward to hearing them. But like I said with the experience of having minimal fans at fights or no fans at all at fights, but also loads of you, it's a good mix.”

(Image: Richard Crease) On the different challenge of fighting in Saudi Arabia, Billam-Smith praised the arena and the set up they have there, putting on some good shows in recent times, with the card next weekend no different.

“There's some great fights on the card and all the fight week build up seems to be very full on and big experience as well,” Billam-Smith said.

“So, I'm looking forward to fight week, I always look forward to fight weeks and enjoying the moments and enjoy every part of it, whether that's the press conference or the workouts or whatever it may be.”

To adjust for the fight, he said not a lot had changed – just adjusting his sleep schedule.

And Billam-Smith will be training right up to his flight on Sunday, saying this week has been a normal training week before tapering down next week.

He had his last spar on Thursday, as well as a strength session, before a boxing session and a run on Friday and another strength session on Saturday.

“We'll arrive there late Sunday night, early Monday morning,” Billam-Smith said. “Monday, we'll do a pad session then it's just tapering down really.

“It's just watching what I eat and making sure that everything's on point in terms of the weight and sleep and then just turning up and doing all the fight week activities.”

On the fight itself, the Bournemouth boxer said it will be interesting to see how Ramirez approaches it.

“If he's his normal self, he throws lots of shots from the off,” he said.

(Image: Richard Crease) “He's not crazy, but he does throw a lot of shots. He tries to establish himself early on in fights.

“I guess it'll depend on me and what I can do in that moment. Then I think it will just be a fight of who's the most attritional and who can keep going through that pain and who's prepared the best physically and mentally.

“I think I'm an underrated puncher with the work rate as well, I think that’ll play a big factor in the fight, me being the natural cruiserweight.

“I think it'll be a big shock to him in there.

“I think that's the same with a lot of fighters. I might not look a certain way, I might look easy to them on the outside, but on the inside it's very different when you're in there with me.”

Comparing ‘Zurdo’ to previous fighters Billam-Smith has faced, he explained: “I think his punch output is probably more than any of them.

“He throws good variety with his punches as well. He's got good range and distance control in terms of making sure he knows where he is at all times in the boxing ring.

“He's a veteran. He's had 47 fights.

(Image: Richard Crease) “He poses a lot of threats there and he's super tough as well. Not saying my previous opponents weren't, but that's another strength he has, he's tough.

“Obviously him being a southpaw is completely different to what I've been used to as well. So I think, I think it'll be a good challenge on the night.”

Billam-Smith said it would be amazing for him to bring the WBA title back to Bournemouth to add to his WBO one.

“It's huge for me,” he said.

“The last Brit to do it in the cruiserweight division was David Haye and everyone knows how big a name and how great a boxer he was.

“So that would be an honour to join that list of being on the same list as David Haye as a unified cruiserweight British World champion.

“It just adds to the journey it's been so far and long may it continue and I think just keep adding the belts to the list.”

Chris Billam-Smith faces Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday, November 16.