Experienced Cornerman Shane McGuigan Targets Unification Bouts After Chris Billam-Smith’s Standout Display
Following Chris Billam-Smith’s impressive victory over Richard Riakporhe on Saturday, his trainer Shane McGuigan has set his sights on unification fights against the top champions in the cruiserweight division.
Despite suggestions that Billam-Smith, 34, was on the decline after his December win over Mateusz Masternak, the reigning WBO cruiserweight titlist produced a disciplined and intelligent performance to earn a convincing decision over his heavy-handed rival Riakporhe, who had previously handed Billam-Smith his only career defeat.
“We’ve got to go for a unified world title. I would love that. I’d like that against Ramirez or Noel Mikaelian, the WBC champion, and then we’d look to box [Jai] Opetaia early next summer. That’s the dream fight. Why wouldn’t we want to do that for an undisputed [title]?” the trainer said.
McGuigan, a highly respected trainer, is targeting the division’s other champions – WBA titlist Gilberto Ramirez, WBC champion Noel Mikaelian, and IBF king Jai Opetaia – for potential unification showdowns.
Billam-Smith had already expressed his desire to challenge Ramirez in Las Vegas, and McGuigan is eager to make that fight happen while his fighter is at his peak.
McGuigan, who has built his reputation with the likes of Carl Frampton and George Groves, believes Billam-Smith, a less celebrated fighter who has nonetheless reached a similar level, represents his greatest coaching success.
“He’s been unbelievable to work with,” McGuigan continued. “As a coach you have to be able to add value to the fighter, and you also have to be able to maximise them, and I want to be able to get to the end of Chris Billam-Smith’s career and say, ‘There’s not one extra per cent left in you’.”
With two stadium fights and three world title bouts under his belt, Billam-Smith has shown the confidence and experience to compete at the highest level, and McGuigan believes there is still more room for improvement.
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