'Back to school mentality' motivating Chris Billam-Smith

Bournemouth cruiserweight sensation Chris Billam-Smith insisted he feels “reinvigorated” as he looks to reach the top once again.

The former WBO world champion suffered defeat to Gilberto Ramirez back in November, in a unification fight in Saudi Arabia last time out.

But having put that behind him, he is set to take on American Brandon Glanton in his comeback fight on April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I'm not looking for a way out of boxing. I feel great if anything, reinvigorated and with a fresh mindset in this camp,” the former Poole ABC fighter told Sky Sports.

"It's not just working towards my strengths all the time, I'm learning still and it's that back to school mentality.

"I feel like that's a good place to be in. Every day in the gym I'm not just turning up for sessions, it's thinking outside the box and adding more and more to my game.

"I feel a completely different person. On the back of the loss I feel a different person as well, I'm very motivated and it's given me a real hunger I guess I lacked a little bit."

Billam-Smith’s professional record now stands at 20 wins and two defeats, having first turned pro in 2017.

"Brandon Glanton is ranked No 5 by the WBC, I'm ranked No 4, while No 3, No 2 and No 1 are all meant to be fighting each other," he added.

"For me it's about doing a good job on April 26 and then we'll see where we go from there.

"Beat Brandon Glanton and I'm a couple of fights away from undisputed. That's the goal and still the motivation."

(Picture: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER)