PROMOTER Eddie Hearn described as a “classy guy” cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith and insisted he still wanted to bring a boxing show to Bournemouth.

The Matchroom boss revealed he had planned to hold a NXTGEN event on Sky Sports in Bournemouth on March 14 with Billam-Smith topping the bill – only for an opponent not to be found for the commonwealth champion.

Hearn told Boxing Social: “I really wanted to do a NXTGEN on March 14 in Bournemouth.

“We offered it to Luke Watkins, we offered it to Deion Jumah. Some were injured, some weren’t available. Tommy McCarthy we offered it to, Sam Hyde wasn’t ready.

“We ran out of time to get an opponent. We also offered it to Nathan Thorley but he wasn’t ready.

“I still want to go to Bournemouth. Beautiful place.

“Billam-Smth and Shane McGuigan, they are up for fighting anyone to be honest. He is a good true, solid pro and I think he’s got a lot of improvement to make, I think he’s very exciting.

“I like him. I think he’s a classy guy.”

Billam-Smith had been set to take on unbeaten Nathan Thorley in Cardiff on May 8 – that bout has now been moved to July 11, due to COVID-19.