WBO Cruiserweight Title Rematch: Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe
On June 15, WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith and challenger Richard Riakporhe will face off in a highly anticipated rematch at Selhurst Park in London. The two British boxers previously met in 2019, with Riakporhe emerging victorious via split decision at the O2 Arena.
This time, the tables have turned, as Billam-Smith now holds the coveted WBO title, having defeated Lawrence Okolie last year in Bournemouth. The champion acknowledged that he is eager to avenge his previous loss to Riakporhe, stating, “> Any fighter is going to want to avenge a loss. I’m glad I get to do that.”
Promoter Ben Shalom hailed the upcoming bout as “the biggest domestic fight in the cruiserweight division,” highlighting Billam-Smith’s success story and Riakporhe’s journey with the promotion from the very beginning. Shalom expressed high expectations for the historic event, saying, “> Everyone wants to create something historic [on June 15]. It will be a great fight, a huge fight, a rematch, a world title, it’s got everything.”
Despite Riakporhe’s previous victory, Billam-Smith remains confident in his abilities and the progress he has made under the tutelage of trainer Shane McGuigan. “If you ask me if I believe if I’ve deteriorated, absolutely not,” the champion asserted. “> Me and my team as always know what’s got to be done and what I’m capable of. We are on an upwards trajectory and that’s all that matters.”
Riakporhe, on the other hand, believes that the wear and tear of Billam-Smith’s grueling fights have taken a toll on his body, stating, “> Boxing is wear and tear on the body all the time and we all deteriorate and he’s always in gruelling fights and takes too many shots, and every single shot you take takes a toll on the body and I’ve seen ‘CBS’ deteriorate in that regard.”
The challenger is confident that his previous victory over Billam-Smith will provide a psychological edge, but he acknowledges the need to avoid complacency. “> It gives me a bit of a psychological edge,” Riakporhe said. “Because I know I’ve beat him before but I don’t want to rest on past victories… Things change if you rest on past victories, it can give you a false sense of security and cloud your judgement.”
As the anticipation builds, both fighters are ready to put on a show for the enthusiastic crowd expected at Selhurst Park. Billam-Smith, who hails from Bournemouth, is set to bring a large contingent of his hometown fans, while Riakporhe, a reported Crystal Palace supporter, will look to turn the venue into a home-field advantage.
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