Chris Billam-Smith ready to fight once the business takes care of itself
“In this game you've got to be like water and just mould to your surroundings and be fluid," Billam-Smith tells Tris Dixon.
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Biography
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
Area of Expertise
Interviews, long-form features, columns, and investigations
Interests
Attended an amateur fight card in an old barn in 1996. I started attending pro shows in 2000.
Career Background
I freelanced from 2001 to 2006 and started full-time with Boxing News in 2007. However, as a freelancer I was living and breathing it and working well beyond full-time hours. I started boxing in 1995 as an amateur and fell in love with it there and then. I was welcomed into my amateur gym, made to feel part of the community and managed to find some self-respect and confidence. Boxing does that to you, and that’s a significant reason for doing what I do, along with having so much respect for what fighters put themselves through to actually fight.
Awards & Honors
Inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame; shortlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year (Damage: The untold story of brain trauma in boxing), Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year (Warrior: A champion’s search for his identity), Daily Telegraph biography of the Year (War and Peace, Ricky Hatton’s autobiography); Boxing Writers Association of America Award winner with multiple placings and honorable mentions.
Articles by Tris Dixon: page 34
Fabio Wardley says there have been ‘conversations’ about facing Derek Chisora
WBO heavyweight beltholder Fabio Wardley has outlined his hopes for 2025
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Chris Billam-Smith intrigued by David Benavidez at cruiserweight
Chris Billam-Smith is keen to see how David Benavidez fares against Gilberto Ramirez at cruiserweight – and thinks he and Benavidez would make for "an unbelievable fight."
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Tyson Fury, at 37 years old, announces ring return: 'I've got nothing better to do'
Tyson Fury has indicated once more that he will box again.
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Conor Benn: 'I’m tired of being angry'
Personas and online characters have fed boxing’s marketeers over the years, and Conor Benn could have played the villain and doubled down. But he says he's over it.
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Shakiel Thompson promises Brad Pauls the ‘shock of his life’
Shakiel Thompson has long been calling out the leading lights at middleweight domestically but had been frustrated in his efforts to land big fights until Brad Pauls stepped up.
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26 things to hope for in boxing in 2026
Matt Christie and Tris Dixon compile their wishlist for the year ahead in boxing
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BoxingScene’s 2025 Promoter of the Year
Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions leads the way as other long-established promoters lose ground in 2025
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Dr. Margaret Goodman interview (Part III): 'PEDs enable all the damage in boxing'
With boxing seemingly losing its 'war on drugs' Tris Dixon asks Dr Margaret Goodman if it's simply time to stop testing altogether
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British boxing good guy Nigel Travis recognized in the King’s Honours list
Nigel Travis has been recognized for his community work in the prestigious New Year Honours List.
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