Richard Riakporhe Says He’ll Have All the Answers Against Rival Chris Billam-Smith

WBO cruiserweight title challenger Richard Riakporhe admits that his opponent on Saturday has improved since they first fought, but Riakporhe insists he has progressed, too.

Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KOs) is the only man to defeat Billam-Smith in the pros, having won a 10-rounder five years ago. Many point to Billam-Smith’s improvement with Shane McGuigan and assess how he has developed, but Riakporhe contends he is now a better boxer. 

“I’ve come on leaps and bounds, mentally, physically – my whole setup,” Riakporhe said. “I remember training for Chris Billam-Smith, I never had a physio. I never had a nutritionist. I never had a decent setup. I was training in London with a load of distractions, and it was only will and determination that got me through that fight.

“I didn’t have a professional setup, but we still managed to get a result. I’ve changed so many things with my camp, I’m going to be elevated and you’ll see it on the night of the 15th of June.”

After their early career paths crossed, many felt Riakporhe would kick on to a world title, but his progress slowed. Even though he says he has not turned down fights, he missed out of contests for the IBF and WBA belts. He also feels like they were then on two different trajectories.

“There was a period of time when I did think they were going to cross again,” Riakporhe explained of fighting CBS again. “I felt like I was going to get my world title, unify and then move up to heavyweight. That was in the back of my mind. It’s funny how things turn out. Now we’re back at it again. He ended up winning the title before me, and now I’m his mandatory challenger for the world title – I didn’t expect that.”

And Riakporhe is one of many to heap credit on Billam-Smith and what he has done since that early-career loss.

“Absolutely, he’s definitely progressed and you can see that by the results,” said the Londoner. “He’s got the wins. He’s managed to find a way to win. Even when a fight wasn’t looking good for him. I’ve been ringside for most of his fights, and after a while I just lose concentration, go on my phone, start talking to the person beside me and he gets a win somehow.

“I remember at the Masternak fight, he was losing most of the rounds and I thought his title was going to Poland. The next thing you know, he’s won the fight and I think, ‘What the hell?’ That’s Chris Billam-Smith.”

While it is Riakporhe’s first fight for a world title, he is certain he will be more than ready to take the title and end Billam-Smith’s dream run. 

Does he admit Billam-Smith is the best he has faced to date?

“It depends on how he shows up,” said Riakporhe. “I’m going to be the best version of myself, but we don’t know what Chris is doing in the gym. We don’t know what tactics he’s working on. I have a feeling of the strategy they’re going to put in place – maybe take away my right hand, work on moving me to the right, these little things. But I feel we’ve got an answer to everything that he will bring, but I don’t think he will have an answer to what I bring to the ring on that night.”