TWICE now, in the space of 13 months, Chris Billam-Smith has worn the expression of the boy on the playground infuriated with the classmate who, rather than kick the football, appears to get a kick out of picking it up with his hands every time it comes anywhere near him. Reminded often that they are playing football and not rugby, the boy with the ball in his hands then turns and says, “But in America this is how they play football.”
The boy with the ball in his hands finds it funnier, while the boy who wants to kick the same ball may not necessarily be wrong. However, only one of them is truly frustrated by this situation. In the boxing ring, where there are fewer uncertainties, it is important to note that there is a clear difference between a boxer who desires to fight and one who would prefer to be engaged in another activity.
Richard Riakporhe, Billam-Smith’s opponent in Croydon on June 15, cannot be described as unwilling to fulfill his obligations for which he was compensated. However, the disparity in attitudes between the two cruiserweights was as evident as the contrast between children on a playground, deliberating whether to kick or carry a ball.
Billam-Smith has always been known for his action-oriented approach, prioritizing kicking over carrying. However, some may argue that his transparency and predictability in his eagerness to engage in a traditional, no-nonsense fight can be a slight disadvantage. Nevertheless, this mindset has endeared him to numerous British boxing fans and has enticed potential opponents who are eager for a guaranteed showdown. With Billam-Smith, you can expect consistency and ultimately, satisfaction.
Or at least that you used to be the case. Recently, you see, Billam-Smith has learned that the old adage about two fighters making a fight is one rooted in truth and not just something a boxer says when they have failed to impress in their big moment. He realised this against Lawrence Okolie, from whom he won his WBO cruiserweight belt last May, and he realised it all over again last night when Riakporhe, like Okolie, brought to the ring as much uncertainty as athleticism and as much negativity as power.
In the case of Riakporhe, it was a bigger surprise, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing for Billam-Smith and his fans. In fact, the unexpected nature of the outcome and the fact that Riakporhe wasn’t anticipated to dominate the fight made the situation at Selhurst Park even more unpleasant than Billam-Smith’s previous match against Okolie in Bournemouth last May. At least, on that night, it was warm.
Regrettably, this cruiserweight bout was one of those that experts advised avoiding. Billam-Smith exerted dominance throughout the fight while maintaining a professional and diligent approach. However, in the ninth round, there was a fleeting moment when it looked like the match could escalate and transcend its lackluster nature. Riakporhe finally sprang to life, landing an early right hand that sent Billam-Smith’s mouth guard soaring. He followed up with two more right hands, one with a minute remaining and another in the final 30 seconds, both of which left Billam-Smith unsettled, if not slightly injured.
Right on time, those shots brought an otherwise quiet crowd back around and their hope now was that Riakporhe would build on this slight shift in momentum and give them an exciting final three rounds. Riakporhe, however, had other ideas. Rather than build on his success in the ninth, he treated the following three rounds the same as the vast majority of the earlier rounds. Which is to say, he looked for right hands, he kept looking for right hands, and then, at the point at which it seemed a good idea to stop looking for them and let go of one, Riakporhe would invariably initiate and seek refuge in a clinch. Worse, it was in this position he tended to linger, unsure how to either break from the clinch he initiated or, and this would make sense, effectively work away on the inside against a fighter and champion who has never shown an aversion to an up-close battle.
Billam-Smith launches his right fist in a powerful throw. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, this scenario never occurred. Additionally, Riakporhe, with a record of 17-1 (13), was not cautioned for his excessive holding throughout the fight. The referee, Steve Gray, finally issued a “final warning” in the eleventh round, which should have been given much earlier. If this warning had been given sooner, Riakporhe might have reconsidered his strategy of constantly closing in for protection. Ultimately, this could have benefited Riakporhe by forcing him to maintain distance and focus on his punches.
Ultimately, the cautionary message arrived too tardily for both Riakporhe and his supporters. Surprisingly, in the subsequent round, the 12th, he incurred a penalty for employing his head instead of holding, further intensifying the peculiar nature of this bout. On the other hand, Billam-Smith, true to his usual demeanor, simply disregarded the situation and carried on. Evidently, this wasn’t the type of fight he preferred, yet he recognized the importance of approaching it with deference, seeing it through to its culmination, and emerging victorious.
Despite the uncomfortably close scores of 116-111, 115-112, 115-112, thanks to three scorecards, he managed to secure the victory. It is worth noting that the point deduction Riakporhe received in round 12 makes these scores even more concerning. However, for Billam-Smith, who now holds a record of 20-1 (13), the most important thing is the win.
Despite still being in the process of improving, the 33-year-old has achieved remarkable victories over his two closest competitors within a span of 13 months. What’s even more impressive is that he managed to not only avenge his lone career defeat against Riakporhe in 2019 but also navigated through challenging opponents in fights that contradicted his usual style, which is a testament to his versatility. In order to overcome these adversaries, he had to embrace an unattractive approach. He had to face frustration head-on and prevent it from becoming his greatest obstacle. Ultimately, he had to maintain composure and persevere until the very end.
During the process, entertainment had to be given up, and any attempt to please the audience, which was previously responsible for building Billam-Smith’s reputation, was now pointless. For the 24 rounds he spent engaging with Okolie and Riakporhe, there would be no chance to attract new fans or enhance his profile to the next level, but he was fine with that. Billam-Smith understood that this was something he had to overcome and endure in order to grow. The enjoyable aspects can resume when he is matched with an opponent who shares his values.
