BOURNEMOUTH, England – Among the stars already contracted to the TKO Group from the worlds of UFC, WWE and Zuffa Boxing, there were many notable faces in the crowd at the Bournemouth International Centre to watch Chris Billam-Smith’s dramatic victory over Ryan Rozicki on Saturday.
Billam-Smith won when the Canadian did not come out for the eighth round of a brutal battle.
And there was plenty of discussion about the faces in the crowd.
Conor Benn, already signed to Zuffa Boxing, was ringside with Dana White and Nick Khan. Ex-fighters, including Scott Welch and Steve Collins were there, but active boxers taking a look at the action in Bournemouth – not a exactly a known boxing hub – included Joshua Buatsi, who was cheering on his pal Cheavon Clarke (who defeated Jack Massey), Adam Azim, who is stablemates with Billam-Smith, and also WBO interim middleweight champ Denzel Bentley, light heavyweight Dan Azeez, heavyweight contender David Adeleye, IBF 154lbs champion Josh Kelly, and light heavyweight Craig Richards.
Post-fight, Zuffa Boxing boss Dana White was asked whether the crowd was filled with fighters he could work with.
“Well, obviously, I’m honored that a lot of these guys showed up to watch our event tonight,” he said. “And my goal is, over the next couple of years, to have everybody.
