Chris Billam-Smith Aims to Defend WBO Cruiserweight Title Against Rival Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park
In a highly anticipated cruiserweight showdown, current WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith will seek to defend his title for the second time as he faces off against longtime rival Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park in London.
Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) captured the WBO crown in May 2022, outpointing former gym mate Lawrence Okolie at Vitality Stadium, the home ground of his beloved AFC Bournemouth. The 33-year-old then successfully defended the title in December, stopping Mateusz Masternak in the eighth round.
“After this domestic clash, the natural progression would be to target the other belt holders,” explained Billam-Smith’s trainer, Shane McGuigan. “We’ve got our sights set on fighters like [Gilberto] Zurdo Ramirez, who recently won the WBA title by defeating Arsen Goulamirian. A potential fight in the States is certainly on the cards.”
However, Billam-Smith’s immediate focus remains on avenging his sole professional defeat, a narrow 10-round decision loss to Riakporhe back in 2019 when they were both 9-0. Now 17-0 (13 KOs) and the 2-to-5 favorite with British bookmakers, the 34-year-old Riakporhe will be fighting in front of his hometown fans at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park.
Billam-Smith, though, is unfazed by the prospect of a hostile crowd. “I don’t think the crowd will be as one-sided as my fight with Lawrence,” he stated. “But I just need to focus on myself and bring the intensity and aggression that I always do. If I perform to the best of my ability, I’m confident I can get the job done.”
A victory for Billam-Smith would not only see him retain his WBO cruiserweight title but would also set him on a path towards unifying the division and potentially securing high-profile fights in the United States.
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