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Ryan \u201cThe Bruiser\u201d Rozicki is set for his first clash outside of Canada when he takes on the former WBO Cruiserweight champ, Chris Billam-Smith in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 07<\/a> in Bournemouth, England. But despite The Bruiser\u2019s reputation as an old-school scrapper, he\u2019s mixing rugged workouts with a smart boxing strategy designed to end things early, he tells M&F.<\/em><\/p>\n Rozicki\u2019s origin story is as cinematic as they come. His first experiences of old-school workouts were earned on the remote Island Cape Breton, off the coast of Nova Scotia, where he would cut wood for his Grandad after the school bell rang. \u201cMy grandfather always said that my punching power was because of all the wood he made me throw up to the trailers,\u201d he explains. \u201cSome days were pretty rough, I\u2019m not gonna lie. But I\u2019m glad he put me through it.\u201d<\/p>\n While the intense manual labor was exhausting, it was also a welcome distraction from a life that was increasingly headed in the wrong direction. Rozicki was getting into fights from the age of seven, and as he got older, so too did the age gap with his opponents. Of course, The Bruiser can only joke that such feuds were never his fault. \u201cIt was always them, every time\u201d he tells M&F<\/em> with a wry smile. \u201cThere\u2019s some very tough people where I come from, and I ran into a few of them. I definitely didn\u2019t win them all, but yeah, I knew I had knockout power<\/a> since I was twelve years old. I think (that) was the first time I knocked somebody out, who was a grown man, in their 20s.\u201d<\/p>\n Fortunately, Rozicki took his raw potential to a boxing gym, but learning the technique was a wakeup call. \u201cThe coach who was at the gym humbled me real quick,\u201d he reflects. \u201cThe amateur fighters humbled me real quick, and I learned very quickly that tough guys just get hurt. They are easy pickings, but it made me respect the sport, respect the training.\u201d<\/p>\n Through boxing, Rozicki was able to channel his energy into something positive, becoming a student of history who looks toward Jack Dempsey as his favorite boxer of all time. The Bruiser still dabbles in some rugged training methods, as illustrated back in March, when he tried to replicate an old George Foreman move<\/a>; pulling a truck with just his body. This excursion ended badly, however, when the truck left the road and crashed into a ditch. \u201cI might actually sell this truck next week,\u201d he told his Instagram followers after the incident. \u201cIf anyone\u2019s interested msg me. It\u2019s located in Cape Breton, will need to be towed most likely but still a solid truck with a hell of a story.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite Rozicki\u2019s storied reputation for old-school training<\/a>, he does not lift weights in the gym during the run-up to a fight. \u201cWe do runs, sprints, and we box,\u201d the boxer explains of the camp that brought him to this next big boxing match. But while their records may be similar, The Bruiser (21-1-1) will be tasked with a vastly different opponent in Chris Billam-Smith (21-2-0). That\u2019s because the man they call \u201cThe Gentleman\u201d is a decorated amateur boxer, the very type of fighter than humbled him in those early years of training. Rozicki feels that the longer the fight goes, the more it swings in the hometown hero\u2019s favor, so he does not want to leave the result in the hands of the judges. \u201cMy goal here is to do everything, and keep that from happening,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n Ryan \u201cThe Bruiser\u201d Rozicki will face \u201cThe Gentleman\u201d Chris Billam-Smith at Zuffa Boxing 7, held at the Bournemouth International Centre on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The event streams live on Paramount+ in the United States and Canada, and Sky Sports in the U.K. and Ireland. For tickets, click here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n To follow Ryan Rozicki on Instagram, click here.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWho Is Ryan \u2018The Bruiser\u2019 Rozicki?<\/h2>\n
Ryan Rozicki\u2019s Journey From Schoolyard Fighter to Boxing Contender<\/h2>\n
Ryan Rozicki\u2019s Strategy for Beating Chris Billam-Smith at Zuffa 7<\/h2>\n
When and Where to Watch Zuffa Boxing 7<\/h2>\n