UNBEATEN cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith revealed how playing chess against an Olympic gold medallist had become a form of “brain training”.

The Bournemouth puncher insisted the historical board game had proved a useful tool at his base in coach Shane McGuigan’s gym in London.

Billam-Smith last week flew out to Philadelphia to watch stablemate Luke Campbell stop Mexico's Adrian Yung in the fifth round of a dominant performance at the Liacouras Centre.

But the Dorset fighter said he had kept Olympian Campbell in check on the chess board ahead of the contest.

He told the Daily Echo: “Everyone says boxing is like chess. It’s a thinking man’s game so it’s good. It’s a bit of brain training and it’s better than playing video games I guess!

“It started when we went to Miami with me, Shane and Luke. We have been playing it ever since.

“We took the board out (to Philadelphia) with us. It must have worked because Luke boxed really well - but he didn’t have the best (chess) result out there!

“I think it was 3-0 or 4-0 against me by the time Shane and the others had got there. Luke usually does really well against me but he just wasn’t on it last week – we are all pretty even to be fair.

“We all have a laugh with it. It can get frustrating at times when your mind’s not switched on.”

He added: “It was a great trip out there for Luke’s fight. Me, Shane and Josh Pritchard went and did the Rocky steps and then I went back the next day and did them with George (Groves).

“You can’t go to Philadelphia, be a boxer and not do the Rocky steps. I had a Philly cheese steak and all boxes were ticked!”

Unbeaten in eight professional contests, former Poole ABC star Billam-Smith could be set for a step up in class if a bout against Isaac Chamberlain gets finalised for April 20 at the O2 Arena in London.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn told IFL TV he would try to put on the fight in the capital, with the likes of Dave Allen and Dereck Chisora also set to appear on the same card.

And Billam-Smith insisted that experienced fighter Campbell had been invaluable to learn from since teaming up with trainer McGuigan last July.

He added: “I remember Luke winning at the Olympics and have followed his career

“It’s great having him around the gym. We get on really well and have become good friends.

“Watching him spar and the way he goes about things, he is the consummate professional. He does everything by the book and doesn’t have loads of time off or anything like that.

“It’s great to have that experience and wealth of knowledge in the gym to add to everything we’ve already got.

“I am learning every day off Luke and everyone else. Everyone has different styles and you can pick things up.

“It was an honour to go out there to Philadelphia with him, we get on well.”