In this raw and emotional episode, Chris Billam-Smith sits down with Darren Barker to tell the unfiltered story of his rise from sleeping in a motorhome to becoming a world champion.
Before fighting on the huge Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight at Selhurst Park on April 26th against American powerhouse Brandon Glanton, Chris opens up about the defining moments of his journey:
➡️ Living without running water or power
➡️ Falling short of Team GB
➡️ Getting written off after losing to Richard Riakporhe
➡️ And the night he lifted the WBO world title in front of a packed stadium in Bournemouth against Lawrence Okolie
This episode goes deeper than boxing. It’s about integrity in a sport driven by hype, being a role model for the next generation, and the mantra that’s powered his career:
👉 Consistency Builds Success.
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Transcripts
00:00 – Intro: “You’d earn more if you trash talked…”
01:32 – Why Chris rejects hype culture in boxing
04:18 – Being a role model & the meaning behind “The Gentleman”
06:05 – Growing up in Bournemouth & family life
08:58 – Why boxing? From football dreams to fighting
13:04 – Sparking his love for boxing through college
16:50 – Amateur career: Dion Juma, Chev Clarke, and falling short of GB
21:45 – The moment he turned pro with Shane McGuigan
24:42 – Living in a motorhome with no water or power
27:18 – First date with his now-wife while still in the motorhome
28:40 – Early pro goals vs reality
30:58 – “You can train me to beat Usyk” — early belief & long-term vision
33:00 – CBS = Consistency Builds Success
34:30 – Getting the nickname “The Gentleman”
37:05 – The Riakporhe loss: how it changed everything
39:16 – Rebuilding: Winning the Commonwealth, British & European titles
41:40 – The Bournemouth homecoming vs Isaac Chamberlain
44:10 – WBO World Title vs Lawrence Okolie – Behind the fight
48:00 – “And the new…” – Winning the belt at AFC Bournemouth
51:40 – Avenging the Riakporhe defeat at Selhurst Park
54:02 – Zurdo loss: honesty, lessons, and motivation
57:15 – Why Chris still fights – It’s bigger than money now
59:00 – April 26 vs Brandon Glanton – Dangerous fight, high stakes
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1:02:00 – World title ambitions & dream opponents
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1:05:50 – Boxing needs more 50/50 fights, less fake hype
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1:09:15 – Would he move to heavyweight? “Not with my style…”
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1:13:00 – How Chris wants to be remembered after boxing
