'A Cinderella story' - Billam-Smith's bid for history

Chris Billam-Smith is lifted up into the sky by his team as he struggles to hold back tears. Sinking to his knees, his wife Mia rushes into the ring to embrace him, the two holding each other in disbelief at what has just happened.

That is a moment that will live long in the memory of WBO cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith, the night he won a world title at Bournemouth's sold-out Vitality Stadium.

Two defences later and the 34-year-old finds himself on his biggest stage yet against arguably his toughest opponent, a unification opportunity against WBA champion and Mexican Gilberto Ramirez.

'The Gentleman' and 'Zurdo' will collide at the top of a bill in Saudi Arabia.

These big nights have not always been the norm for Billam-Smith. He dreamed of boxing on a big show in his hometown but did not get the opportunity until the summer of 2022. He was a big underdog in his first world-title fight against Lawrence Okolie in 2023.

And then again in his second defence against Richard Riakporhe, a man who had previously beaten him.

"I've worked with about 20 fighters and I've never seen as many low points in someone's career as Chris Billam-Smith," trainer Shane McGuigan said.

"Whether it's been in camp, fight opportunities or rubbish money we've just had to roll with it and that is testament to him."

On Saturday Billam-Smith has the opportunity to write his name into the history books.

Victory would make him the first Brit to unify at cruiserweight since David Haye.

Stepping into the McGuigan Gym is always intriguing, a small hall in north London that is kitted out with a boxing ring down one end and a host of bags down the other - reinforcement bags piled up in a corner, in case some punches get too destructive.

For this camp the gym's heating was cranked right up, radiators surrounding the hall on full blast.

It will be Billam-Smith's first time competing in Saudi Arabia. Ramirez has just one loss in 47 fights.

"It would be a Cinderella story if he can win. It already is one," McGuigan said.

"We've got this far, he's changed his life financially and goes in the history books as being a world champion, he can beat Ramirez and he will win the fight.

"That being said I don't want too many more of these training camps, he's a friend and you can only keep winning and putting your body through so much, and you can only bite down on the gum shield so many times.

"I know that this is not the night it catches up with him but I don't want to see that happen - I want to see him go out with his brain still intact, he's got a beautiful family."

Billam-Smith's biggest supporter is his wife, Mia.

They met in a bar 10 years ago and were "pretty inseparable from the off".

"I knew he'd achieve big things with his mindset. He's like nobody I have ever met before," Mia told BBC Sport.

"The pressure to perform is a lot for him. I feel that weight too as a wife and a parent, and worry about him and his health - that being said, he's doing what he loves and I wouldn't want it any other way.

"I have actually started seeing a therapist to help compartmentalise my fears and manage my emotions, especially around fight week, to stop myself getting too overwhelmed, it is a constant balancing act."

Often during fights, Mia can be found sat with family at ringside, looking at the ground or away from the ring.

Through camp she looks after their young son in Bournemouth while Billam-Smith trains in London, the trio reuniting on weekends.

Mia has had some emotional moments with Chris after his bouts, but says being at ringside is like an "out of body experience".

"Sometimes I scream and shout, sometimes I dance to music between rounds, often I'm crying with my head in my hands but I honestly am not present mentally," she said.

"I will ask Chris' brother what round we are on and if he's OK, because for me that's all I really care about.

"Hearing the final bell go and him being OK is a relief, his safety comes first and the win comes second."

During camp Billam-Smith lives with his close friend Lee Cutler.

Cutler is a former English super-welterweight champion but is part of the McGuigan gym stable, under the watch of trainer Josh Pritchard.

Cutler was 14 when he first met Billam-Smith.

"It's great to live around someone like him and see what he's going through, and all the success he's had," Cutler said.

Sharing a flat in east London, they spend a lot of time together.

One of the attributes that Cutler puts his flatmate's success down to is his meticulous routines.

"First thing in the morning he runs a cold bath which he says shocks the nervous system," Cutler said.

"He wears blue light blocking glasses before bed to help him sleep and even has a little whiteboard in his bedroom about his opponents, with their strengths and weaknesses.

"Chris never really comes off plan, especially deep in camp. To be honest he gets better each camp, every time I just see him improving in every aspect."