Rozicki thinks that kind of thinking could backfire badly.
“I think it’s a mistake,” Rozicki told Sky Sports about Billam-Smith discussing Opetaia before their fight is even out of the way.
“I wouldn’t say it’s disrespectful because he’s getting asked the question, he’s answering the question. He’s just responding to questions, but the way he’s responding shows me that they’ve already got their eyes set on Jai, they already got their eyes set on these bigger fights than me, and I don’t think you should ever look past somebody like me.”
Rozicki’s warning centered on his punching power and Billam-Smith’s tendency to get dragged into hard fights.
“If he switches off for even a fraction of a second, then he’ll be switched off,” Rozicki said.
The Nova Scotia puncher made it clear he is not thinking beyond the opening bell.
“I think about the first round against Chris and just landing shots, landing clean shots on his head. Whatever I can hit and just hit him until the fight’s over,” he said.
Billam-Smith rejected the idea that speaking about Opetaia means he is overlooking Rozicki. He argued that planning ahead is part of how he keeps himself motivated during long training camps.
“People believe that talking about future opposition is looking past an opponent. But there’s something in psychology where you also need to plan ahead,” Billam-Smith said.
The 35-year-old added that his previous fight against Brandon Glanton felt empty because he had nothing lined up beyond it.
“Whereas this fight leads to something and you can find more from yourself because you’ve got your eye on something beyond it,” Billam-Smith said.
The June 6 fight in Bournemouth could decide whether Billam-Smith moves back toward a title shot against Opetaia or whether Rozicki derails those plans before they properly begin.
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