After enduring weeks of anticipation, it has been officially announced today that Chris Billam-Smith will be defending his WBO Cruiserweight title against Richard Riakporhe, the mandatory challenger, during the upcoming summer.
The event is scheduled for June 15th at Selhurst Park, the beloved home stadium of Riakporhe’s favorite soccer team, Crystal Palace FC. It will be part of the Boxxer promotion and will be broadcasted live on Sky Sports. In addition to defending his belt for the second time, Billam-Smith, with a record of 19-1 (13), will have an opportunity to seek revenge against Riakporhe, who currently holds an undefeated record of 17-0 (13). This comes after Billam-Smith’s loss to the Londoner in July 2019.
In the O2 Arena in London, five years ago, Billam-Smith and Riakporhe clashed in a fierce battle on the undercard of Dillian Whyte vs. Oscar Rivas. The fight lasted 10 rounds, with both fighters giving it their all for a minor WBA strap. Ultimately, Riakporhe emerged as the victor, securing a split decision from judges Leszek Jankowiak and Salvador Silva, who scored the fight 95-94 and 97-92 in his favor. However, Terry O’Connor saw it differently, awarding a scorecard of 96-93 in favor of Billam-Smith. Bob Williams served as the referee for the match.
Since then, both fighters have managed to maintain their unbeaten records. Billam-Smith has had an impressive streak of 10 consecutive victories, triumphing over notable opponents such as Tommy McCarthy (twice), Isaac Chamberlain, and notably, his world title triumph where he dethroned Lawrence Okolie almost a year ago.
Billam-Smith had the advantage of fighting in his home turf at the Vitality Stadium, where Bournemouth AFC resides and is supported by their prominent fan, known as “The Gentleman”. Although the fight itself was unremarkable, Billam-Smith triumphed over Okolie by winning a majority decision. In his initial title defense in December, he faced a challenging opponent in Polish veteran Mateusz Masternak, who kept the champion on his toes until retiring in the eighth round due to a rib injury.
Since July 2019, Riakporhe has been on a winning streak, defeating seven opponents including notable contenders like Jack Massey, Olanrewaju Duradola, Deion Jumah, and Fabio Turchi. This success can be attributed to his partnership with Ben Shalom and Boxxer, which has allowed the 34-year-old to display his formidable power and end his last five fights before the final bell.
Last month, there were reports stating that the terms for the Billam-Smith vs. Riakporhe rematch had been agreed upon. Promoter Ben Shalom had wished to make an announcement at the earliest opportunity, but the choice of venue had posed as an obstacle.
Returning to the Vitality Stadium had been ruled out and on March 31 Billam-Smith explained to Boxing News – having just watched Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke produce a modern heavyweight classic – why he wanted a return to the O2 Arena once again to face Riakporhe.
“I’m eager to host the event right here, at the O2 Arena. This is where the first fight took place, and it holds great historical significance. Unfortunately, AFC Bournemouth isn’t a feasible option due to pitch availability during this time of year. However, returning to the O2 Arena would be fantastic. It’s an incredible venue for a major event, just like tonight’s successful one. I’m confident it will be another unforgettable spectacle.”
Billam-Smith, who enjoys a considerable following in Bournemouth, is of the opinion that Riakporhe doesn’t possess the same ticket-selling appeal as he does. On June 15, we will witness the true extent of the challenger’s popularity as he steps into the ring for the most significant fight of his career on his home turf.
