Chris Billam-Smith will target Badou Jack and the WBC heavyweight title in his bid to become world champion again.
In November, Gilberto Ramirez solidly outclassed Britain's Billam-Smith, winning by unanimous decision to unify the WBO and WBA titles.
But the former champion has bounced back from that loss and is trying to win the WBC belt, now held by Badou Jack after becoming champion again.
“I'm back in training and I'm feeling good. I'm feeling really invigorated and motivated,” said Billam-Smith Sky Sports.
“I'd like the Badou Jack fight. I think he's tied with (Ryan) Rozicki (mandatory challenger). I'd like that fight.”
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Cruiserweight contender Viddal Riley says Billam-Smith is the most dominant cruiserweight the UK has ever had and has beaten a lot of good boxers of his generation
Billam-Smith is ranked No. 4 in the WBC and will be in the frame for an eventual title shot of his own.
He believes he can come back a better fighter. “He was great,” Bilam-Smith said of Ramirez.
“He's a very special fighter. It was a really good experience for me to share the ring with him, learn and build from him. All I can do is go and get better.”
Although he added: “It was a tough defeat because I was just beaten by a better man.”
Massey calls for a 'CBS' fight
Another British cruiser coming back from a heavy defeat at world level is Jack Massey. Brilliant IBF champion Jai Opetaia stopped Massey on his feet in October.
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Jai Opetaia showed off his vicious combinations as he punished Jack Massey and forced a stoppage in the sixth round
“Positive things to take from the fight. At least I can say I have a good beard!” Massey laughed.
“There is no shame in losing to such an elite fighter. I will come back and I will get back to that level.
“He just gets through everything, doesn't he? He's an elite fighter, he's shown that.
“I'm looking forward to him fighting Ramirez. That's what they're talking about next. I don't think he'll have a problem. I think he'll probably get him out of there in less than eight rounds, personally. But a good fight while it lasts.”
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Billam-Smith admitted that he “left it all” in the ring against Ramirez, but the Mexican champion was too smart and skilled
The Mancunian would like a high-profile fight with Billam-Smith. “We're looking to get back to March, April time. Get some wins under the belt and then we can aim for something big,” Massey said Sky Sports.
“See what Chris Billam-Smith is saying. It would be a great fight.”
Massey actually beat Billam-Smith more than a decade ago, when they were amateur boxers, in the ABA National Finals.
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Highlights from Ramirez's Billam-Smith bout for the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles
“We've both come up a lot since then but, definitely, this is a big fight for me and it's a fight I'm very, very confident I'm going to go in and beat Chris Billam-Smith,” said Massey.
“We both lost at that level and we both want to get up to that level. It makes sense, whoever wins is fighting for the world title.
“Definitely makes sense and what a great fight it would be. We both have good chins. We both like to fight each other. It's going to be a great fight.”
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Shane McGuigan felt Ramirez was winning rounds from Billam-Smith with 'less effort' and that was a telling factor in the fight
However, that's not the fight Billam-Smith is looking at right now.
“It doesn't really make sense to me. Jack's best win is Isaac Chamberlain. He boxed for a world title (but) it feels like a big step back and I want to fight big fights, fights that I can really stand up for,” he said. Bilam-Smith.
“I'd give it my all anyway, but the feeling wouldn't be the same. What am I going to get by beating Jack? And that's how I have to look at it sometimes. I don't think I'm going to get any credit for beating Jack Massey.
“I want to fight at world title level. That's what I want to do.”