LEGENDARY FOOTBALL icon Harry Redknapp says he could see himself going toe-to-toe with Arsene Wenger if he ever had to step inside a boxing ring.
The popular former FA Cup-winning manager is backing Bournemouth cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith to do the business and defeat Armend Xhoxhaj in tonight’s BOXXER Fight Night main event.
Billam-Smith is ranked No.2 by the WBO and has his sights set on securing a world title shot at the Vitality Stadium in 2023.
First, he must celebrate another triumphant homecoming at a sold-out Bournemouth International Centre this evening where 2018 I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner Redknapp plans to be cheering on at ringside.
And ex-Tottenham boss Redknapp – who this week joined Billam-Smith on on a tour of his beloved Cherries football stadium – joked he would opt to face-off against a certain former Arsenal manager.
“It’s a tough one. But I’d probably have to say Arsene Wenger,” laughed Redknapp, when asked by BOXXER’s Spencer Oliver on which football manager he’d choose to fight in a boxing bout
BILLAM-SMITH VS. XHOXHAJ DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, December 17
- Main card: 7 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 10 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. ET
- Sky Sports will broadcast the fight in the UK
- The fight will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre in England.
- The main card is set to get underway at 7 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. ET.
“We’d probably dance around each other for nine rounds without actually punching each other!”
Should Billam-Smith come through against Germany-based rival Xhoxhaj tonight, Redknapp will be the first in line for a ticket to see the cruiserweight compete in a potential event at the Vitality Stadium next summer.
“It’s what we all want to see,” said Redknapp.
“Home advantage makes a real difference. Chris will fill this place. People here love what he is doing and it’s great to have a proper boxing interest again from the people in Bournemouth.
“Way before Chris was born, people here in Bournemouth would talk about Freddie Mills. So, it is nice to have another great fighter coming through like he is because it gives us all a lot to look forward to.
“I love the boxing. The last fight here [when Chris defeated Isaac Chamberlain] was one of the fights of the year. The atmosphere was incredible.
“I saw Barry McGuigan win the world title [in June 1985 against Eusebio Pedroza]. I was there that night at Loftus Road. His Dad got in the ring and the crowd were singing ‘Danny Boy’. It was so moving.
“What a great night that was and, of course, a great fighter Barry was. A top class man and a great family.
“If he was a footballer, could see him as a centre-half or a big centre forward!”
Chris Billam-Smith takes on Armend Xhoxhaj live on Sky Sports Mix tonight, with coverage starting at 7pm.
TONIGHT’S CARD IN FULL
(Please note this is not a running order)
12 x 3 mins International Cruiserweight Contest
CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH
(Bournemouth)
12 x 3 mins British Light-Heavyweight Championship
And Vacant Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Championship
DAN AZEEZ v
(Lewisham)
6 x 2 mins Lightweight Contest
CAROLINE DUBOIS v
(Romford)
8 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest
STEVE ROBINSON v
(Newcastle)
8 x 3 mins Lightweight Contest
CORI GIBBS
(Birmingham)
6 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight Contest
LEE CUTLER v
(Bournemouth)
6 x 3 mins Welterweight Contest
MICHAEL McKINSON v ROBERTO ARRIAZA
(Portsmouth)
4 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight Contest
MACE RUEGG v
(Bournemouth)
4 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight Contest
HARVEY LAMBERT vs SEBASTIAN WOJTAN
(Hull)