Chris Billam-Smith to Defend WBO Cruiserweight Title Against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park
On June 15, Chris Billam-Smith will make the second defense of his WBO cruiserweight title, taking on his old rival Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park in London. The highly anticipated rematch comes after Riakporhe defeated Billam-Smith in a split decision back in 2019 when they were both up-and-coming prospects.
Billam-Smith, the 33-year-old champion, had been hoping to defend his title in front of his hometown fans in Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, where he won the belt from Lawrence Okolie last year. However, the fight will now take place at the home of Premier League club Crystal Palace, which can accommodate over 25,000 spectators for boxing.
The champion, who is trained by Shane McGuigan, is currently 19-1 with 13 knockouts. He successfully defended his title for the first time in December, defeating tough Polish veteran Mateusz Masternak by eighth-round retirement at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Riakporhe, the 34-year-old challenger, boasts an undefeated record of 17-0 with 13 KOs. He last fought in November, scoring a routine stoppage win over Frenchman Dylan Bregeon.
“I’m looking forward to giving the Bournemouth fans an away day to remember with an explosive performance, live on Sky Sports,” said Billam-Smith. “Richard is a good fighter, but I’ve improved hugely since we last met and he’s going to be in for a terrible night at Selhurst Park. The WTO belt is coming back with me to Bournemouth.”
Riakporhe, on the other hand, is confident that he will emerge victorious.
“My time has come,” he declared. “The countdown is on. I’m the runaway ‘Midnight Train’ that you cannot stop and it’s the end of the line for Chris Billam-Smith. I can’t wait to knock Chris out and take his title. I’ve beaten him once and I’m ready to do it again. This time it’s not going to the judges. He’s going to be out cold on the canvas and the world title is going to be staying in South London.”
Promoter Ben Shalom expressed his excitement for the matchup, stating:
“Chris Billam-Smith has huge support on the south coast, and we expect the AFC Bournemouth faithful to travel in huge numbers to support him as he puts his WBO world title on the line against the only man to beat him. It’s a dream come true for Richard Riakporhe as he gets his world title shot in front of his fellow Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park.”
This highly anticipated rematch promises to be an explosive affair, as two of the top cruiserweights in the division collide for the WTO title. Boxing enthusiasts are in for a treat on June 15 at Selhurst Park.
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