Ryan Rozicki’s reputation as one of boxing’s most aggressive punchers can be traced back more than a century to a fight that took place long before he was born.
The Canadian cruiserweight, who faces Chris Billam-Smith on June 6 in Bournemouth, says his outlook on fighting was heavily influenced by watching Jack Dempsey’s destruction of Jess Willard in 1919. The bout remains one of the most famous heavyweight title fights in boxing history and left a lasting impression on Rozicki when he first discovered it as a young fighter.
“When I saw it, at that time in my life, it was all about violence,” said Rozicki to Sky Sports’ The Gloves Are Off.
“It was always about how much damage I could do to somebody in a street fight. I’m not going to get into too much detail about that.
“But when I saw Jack Dempsey fight, the way he attacked Willard – it was just the violence he displayed in that fight.
“To this day, I think it’s probably the most brutal set of injuries ever suffered in one boxing match. I try to do the same thing.”
Rozicki’s style has reflected that philosophy throughout his professional career. Twenty of his 21 victories have come by knockout, and he has built a reputation as a relentless pressure fighter who is willing to trade punches in pursuit of a stoppage.
The 31-year-old said Dempsey remains a source of inspiration more than 100 years after the former heavyweight champion’s victory over Willard.
“What Jack Dempsey did on that night, on July 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, changed the course of boxing forever. I’d like to bring a little bit more of that.
“Because although I like boxing, and appreciate the boxers, the movement, the technique, the jab, the angles, we don’t see enough of the violence – like two guys trying to actually hurt each other.”
Rozicki will attempt to bring that approach into the ring against Billam-Smith, the former WBO cruiserweight champion. Billam-Smith has never been knocked down as a professional, but Rozicki believes the attacking style that made Dempsey famous still has a place in modern boxing.
Whether that approach is enough to hand Billam-Smith a first defeat since 2024 remains to be seen. One thing is clear, though. Rozicki’s fighting identity was shaped long ago by a heavyweight champion who competed more than a century before his own career began.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/01 at 11:19 AM
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