“You said to us in the buildup, if I do my job, this fight is three rounds or less,” the interviewer said.
“Hopefully shorter,” Rozicki replied to Sky Sports Boxing.
The Canadian puncher enters the fight with a reputation for seeking knockouts rather than decisions, and he made it clear that his approach will be no different against the former world champion.
Asked if he was still coming to Bournemouth looking for a stoppage, Rozicki left little room for doubt.
“Yeah, we’re going to try not to take as much damage while we’re going for the knockout,” he said.
Rozicki then went even further when discussing the possibility of the fight going the distance.
“If it does, I lost,” he said. “I’m not getting a points decision here. We all know that. So, it’s a knockout or get knocked out.”
Billam-Smith has heard the prediction before. The Bournemouth native said he has prepared for every scenario and isn’t placing much weight on Rozicki’s comments.
“I’ve heard people say it before,” Billam-Smith said. “It’s irrelevant come fight night.”
The fight headlines the first Zuffa Boxing event held in the United Kingdom. Billam-Smith will have home support behind him, while Rozicki arrives believing his best route to victory is ending matters before the judges become a factor.
Saturday night’s main event will reveal whether Rozicki’s confidence was justified or whether Billam-Smith can hand the Canadian another setback in his pursuit of a major title opportunity.
