Chris Billam-Smith is eager for a rematch with Richard Riakporhe to occur at the very same venue where he experienced his sole defeat so far.
Riakporhe emerged victorious in a 10-round bout on July 20, 2019, during the undercard of Dillian Whyte’s triumph against Oscar Rivas at London’s O2 Arena.
Billam-Smith and Riakporhe, who were both promoted by Boxxer, are on the verge of a highly anticipated rematch after five years. In this upcoming bout, Billam-Smith will be defending his WBO world cruiserweight title against Riakporhe, who has now become his mandatory challenger.
In an unpleasant match against his friend and former gym-mate Lawerence Okolie, the 33-year-old champion emerged victorious and claimed the belt last May. Despite the forgettable nature of the fight, it was a remarkable night for Billam-Smith as he triumphed in front of his hometown supporters at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. Continuing his journey, “The Gentleman” made a comeback in December, securing a hard-earned victory against Mateusz Masternak. The Polish boxer retired in the eighth round due to a rib injury.
On the other hand, Riakporhe remains undefeated in 17 fights and has showcased his dominance in his most recent five victories, with each opponent being either stopped or knocked out.
Billam-Smith has only been defeated by Riakporhe. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Boxing News caught up with Billam-Smith last night at the O2 Arena after a crowd of over 10,000 watched a British heavyweight title classic between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke.
He mentioned that we are simply awaiting confirmation on a venue for the Riakporhe rematch.
“I have a strong desire to hold the event here at the O2 Arena, as this is where the first fight took place. It only makes sense, considering the historical significance. Unfortunately, AFC Bournemouth is not a viable option due to the unavailability of their pitch during this time of year. However, let’s return to the O2 Arena for this fight. It is an exceptional venue for hosting a major event, much like the one we had tonight. All I need now is for the necessary paperwork to be completed, the announcement to be made, and I am already in training, eagerly anticipating this fight.”
Earlier that evening, Billam-Smith’s gym-mate Adam Azim faced off against Harlem Eubank ahead of their proposed super-lightweight clash. While there was no official announcement Azim’s trainer Shane McGuigan confirmed to BN that the fight had been signed and will take place.
