CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH is hoping an explosive performance against Brandon Glanton on April 26 will set up a shot at WBC champion Badou Jack.

The 34-year-old has not boxed since he lost his WBO cruiserweight title in the unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Riyadh on November 16.

He returns to the ring with renewed viguour at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of the Ring Magazine’s Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves event topped by Chris Eubank Jr against Conor Benn. The event will be broadcast globally by DAZN. In Billam-Smith’s way that night is 33-year-old Glanton who shares an identical 20-2 record with the Bournemouth man.

A defeat for CBS is unthinkable as he bids to line up another shot at the world title and knows an impressive victory over Glanton will put him right back in the mix following his UD loss to Zurdo last year.

Now, speaking to Ring Magazine, Billam-Smith has declared that he wants to tee up a crack at WBC champion Jack later this year. And the timelines will work perfectly given Jack’s next fight, his first for more than two years, takes place the week after Billam-Smith against Glanton.

The 41-year-old is scheduled to make the long-awaited first defence of his WBC belt against mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki at the Venue Riyadh Season on the undercard of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s undisputed clash with William Scull on May 3.

Billam-Smith said: “The Badou Jack fight is the one I’d like most.

“But I’m not sure if he's interested in the fight. But I also think if he's not going to fight the other champions yet, who else can he fight at cruiserweight?

“I'm probably one of the biggest fights outside the champions because of what I've done at cruiserweight. He hasn't openly called out the other champions. He's not really calling out anyone. He's just got reinstated as champion.

“I’m not sure he wants it, which is a shame if you've got a belt.

“He hasn't boxed in so long so I'm not sure how serious he'll take the sport. He's always going to be a hard fighter and a hard trainer. But he's been out for a long time.

“But that would be the ideal fight once I come through against Glanton. We’ll have a look at the other champions too but for now, it's very much laser-focused on April 26th.

"He's a good opponent and a tough test. He's ranked number five with WBC, I'm ranked number four with the WBC so a win will push me right up there."