Jai Opetaia is the cruiserweight every contender Zuffa Boxing signed wants to challenge. Australia’s Opetaia owns The Ring championship and is considered the class of the 200-pound division until someone dethrones him.

A fight with the former IBF champ is exactly the type of opportunity – and payday – Rozicki seeks. Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) hoped to face WBC champ Noel Mikaelian next, but that plan could change now that the WBC ordered Armenia’s Mikaelian to box WBA/WBO champ David Benavidez next.

Regardless, opposing Opetaia is the last thing on Rozicki’s mind this week because the Canadian contender learned an invaluable lesson the first time he fought Yamil Peralta. Rozicki acknowledged that he overlooked Argentina’s Peralta, who Rozicki edged by split decision in their 10-rounder four years ago.

“I looked past an opponent again one time in my career and I’ll never make that mistake again,” Rozicki told The Ring. “I’ll never focus on who’s next because of what happened when I fought Peralta the first time. And those who don’t know, he’s one of the best cruiserweights in the world. I just looked past him, to the world champion at the time [Ilunga Makabu].

“But I was so focused on the next guy, it cost me that night. So, for me, personally, I don’t look past Chris right now. I know they’re talking about Jai and, of course, anything can happen after this fight. The winner’s probably gonna be in line to fight him. I would love to, but right now I’m focused on Chris.”

Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KOs), a native of Sydney Forks, Nova Scotia, traveled to England to battle Billam-Smith in the former WBO champion’s hometown of Bournemouth. Sky Sports will televise Billam-Smith versus Rozicki from Bournemouth International Centre in the United Kingdom (7 p.m. BST) and Paramount+ will stream it to subscribers in the United States and Canada (11:30 a.m. ET).

Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) will end a 13-month layoff. The 35-year-old ex-champ beat Brandon Glanton by unanimous decision in his last fight, a 12-rounder in April 2025 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The hard-hitting Rozicki, 31, settled for a majority draw with Peralta (18-2-1, 10 KOs) in their 12-round rematch almost 18 months ago, but hasn’t lost since former heavyweight contender Oscar Rivas defeated him by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder in October 2021.

Billam-Smith is The Ring’s No. 3 contender for Opetaia’s title, three positions ahead of the sixth-rated Rozicki.

“That would probably be the biggest name on my resume, one of the most established fighters for sure,” Rozicki said about Billam-Smith. “It would definitely set me up for some big things in the future.”

The buildup toward the main event of “Zuffa Boxing 07” has been mundane compared to some promotions because Billam-Smith and Rozicki have been nothing but respectful.

“Despite the fact that we’re gonna fight each other – I’m gonna try to hurt him, he’s gonna try and hurt me – I’ve always actually been a fan of Chris,” Rozicki said. “I’ve traveled to see him fight, to try to line up a fight with him, but also as a boxing fan. I’m a fan of his style. Inside the ring, he’s a killer, a fighter, a warrior. Then outside the ring he's a gentleman, like his nickname. He's everything you would want a champion to be, really.”