FORMER Poole ABC puncher Chris Billam-Smith revealed how inspiring young boxers had been a driving force behind his quest for success.

The 27-year-old, who turned professional last year having taken up the sport as a teenager, is unbeaten in five fights under the watchful eye of big-name coach Shane McGuigan.

Billam-Smith has not looked back since linking up with boxing legend Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions in September last year.

Known as the Clones Cyclone, 57-year-old Barry McGuigan, father to coach Shane, was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005, having been crowned featherweight world champion after beating Eusebio Pedroza in 1985.

Billam-Smith, who has flourished in the McGuigan stable, is looking to become the first man to stop Slovakian puncher Michal Plesnik when the pair lock horns on Steve Bendall’s ‘The Dawning’ show at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy on Saturday.

Plesnik, 28, has won six of his eight professional contests with five victories coming by way of knockout.

Billam-Smith is based in London from Monday to Friday and returns to his home in Winton at weekends.

But the cruiserweight’s busy schedule did not stop him returning to his roots recently, in order to try to influence the next generation.

He took the time to visit his former stomping ground at Poole, as well as Parkstone ABC, run by one of his former amateur coaches Kevin Thorniley.

Billam-Smith, a keen Cherries follower, told the Daily Echo: “You have clubs around the area like my old amateur club Poole, as well as Parkstone ABC, and they are showing kids they can work hard and it will pay off.

“It’s nice to go down and see it all. If I can help inspire those kids or put money into the clubs eventually, that would be great.

“You want to provide for your own family but if you are put in a position where you can make opportunities for youngsters then why not do it?

“Deep down, that is something which drives me.

“Driving back from Poole, I used to love being there and it brought back great memories.

“They are only a small club and nobody had previously gone professional from there for a long time.

“Almost every time I am back, I go down there when they have training. It’s about giving back as well.

“I want kids from around this area to see that you have to graft. If you graft and you want something, you can get it.”

Another victory for the former Stourfield Junior School pupil would be his third in Bournemouth as a professional.

Billam-Smith overcame Russ Henshaw in the first round of his professional debut at the same venue.

He also stopped durable Romanian Gheorghe Danut after five rounds at the Bournemouth arena in March.