BOURNEMOUTH cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith admitted he did not agree with former world champion Nigel Benn’s decision to return to the ring.

British star Benn says he is coming back to boxing at the age of 55 to gain "closure”.

He has announced a one-off fight with 40-year-old Sakio Bika on November 23 in Birmingham – the same night as Billam-Smith’s upcoming cruiserweight bout with Craig Glover at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Nicknamed the 'Dark Destroyer', Benn claimed the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and held the WBC super-middleweight crown from 1992 until 1996.

His most recent bout, a challenge for Irishman Steve Collins's WBO super-middleweight belt, came almost 23 years ago and ended unsuccessfully following his retirement after six rounds.

Billam-Smith was just six-years-old when Benn last fought Collins and admitted he did not want to see the legendary fighter make his return.

Asked for his opinion on Benn’s comeback, the former Poole ABC star told Boxing Social: “I don’t agree with it at all if I’m honest. It’s not going to improve his legacy.

“Even if he knocked out Bika in a round – it’s not going to improve his legacy.

“He’s got a great legacy. It can only tarnish his legacy.”

Benn’s comeback is set to be sanctioned by the British and Irish Boxing Authority, with the British Boxing Board of Control against the fight.

Billam-Smith added: “With him being 55 years old and the dangers of this sport regardless of how fit and well they may feel – there is a big difference.

“I played football recently and I hadn’t played football in years. Going back to football I had lost everything, so I don’t know what it must be like for him.

“He has been out of the ring for a long time. Boxing is not an easy sport. If it does go ahead, I just hope they both come out safely.”