Unification With Gilberto Ramirez In U.S. Next for Chris Billam-Smith?

Should Chris Billam-Smith gain revenge over Richard Riakporhe at London’s Selhurst Park and successfully defend his WBO cruiserweight title for the second time, he will likely take aim at the other belt holders in the division.

Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) won the title in May last year when he outpointed former gym mate Lawrence Okolie at Vitality Stadium, home of CBS’ beloved AFC Bournemouth, where he was roared to victory by his hometown fans. He followed that in December when he stopped Mateusz Masternak in eight rounds.

“[Unification] would be the natural progression,” Billam-Smith’s trainer, Shane McGuigan, said. “We’ve had the domestic fights now. This will be his second for world titles – two stadium fights.

“I would like to see him potentially go abroad. There’s [Gilberto] Zurdo Ramirez, who’s just picked up [the WBA title], beating Arsen Goulamirian, and that’s a potential fight in the States.

“We’ll see what options are out there because, at the same time, he loves boxing at home in front of the U.K. audience. But we will be staying at cruiser and we will be looking to capture another belt.”

For now, the 33-year-old Billam-Smith is focused purely on beating the opponent who closely outscored him over 10 rounds back in July 2019 when they were both 9-0. Riakporhe, a year older at 34, is now 17-0 (13) and the 2-to-5 favorite, according to British bookmakers.

“I just need to turn up and be me,” he said of his key to victory. “I always bring intensity and aggression, so I just need to do that, stay safe and perform to the best of my ability.”

Fighting at Selhurst Park, the home of Riakporhe’s Crystal Palace, does not concern the champion.

“I don’t think [the crowd] will be as one-sided as me and Lawrence in terms of home crowd and away crowd,” said Billam-Smith. “But I just need to focus on me.”