Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe II | Sky Sports - 15 June 2024

[Ruthless-RKO]

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Chris Billiam-Smith-Richard Riakporhe WBO Title Fight Rematch Set; Date, Location TBD

Chris Billam-Smith is set to run it back versus the only fighter to hang a defeat on his record.

The reigning WBO cruiserweight titlist is signed and sealed for a rematch versus unbeaten contender Richard Riakporhe. Ben Shalom, founder of BOXXER and the promoter for both boxers, confirmed the news to Sky Sports on Thursday that they’ve agreed to a fight, with the date and location to be determined.

Two football stadiums were teased as the leading candidates to land the clash: Selhurst Park, home to the Crystal Palace Football Club in Croydon, London; and Vitality Stadium, home to AFC Bournemouth and also the home location for Billam-Smith, who strongly suggested the latter was very much in play.

“Selhurst Park seems a bit random, considering [Riakporhe] is a Millwall [Football Club] fan,” Billam-Smith tweeted in his playful opposition to the London locale. “See you all back soon back at Vitality. Up the Cherries.”

Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) has fought in Bournemouth for each of his past four fights. Chief among them was his upset win over then unbeaten WBO title claimant Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14KOs) last May 27 at Vitality Stadium. He has made one successful defense, a come-from-behind, eighth-round stoppage of Poland’s Mateusz Masternak on December 10 at ‘The BIC’ (Bournemouth International Center).

All told, the 33-year-old cruiserweight has won ten in a row since a split decision defeat to Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KOs) in their July 2019 battle of unbeaten prospects at The O2 in London.

Riakporhe appeared on course to challenge for a major title in 2023, only to get stuck in a holding pattern. The 34-year-old Londoner began the year with a fourth-round knockout of former WBO titlist Krzysztof Glowacki last January 21 in Manchester. It was later learned that Glowacki tested positive for a banned substance, for which he was dealt a four-year ban.

The win positioned Riakporhe as the mandatory challenger to lineal and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. Their ordered bout headed to a purse bid hearing, only for Riakporhe’s team to pull their charge from the process on the morning of the session.

His lone fight since then was a second-round knockout of woefully overmatched Dylan Bregeon on November 18 in Wolverhampton.

Riakporhe will now enter his first career title fight and is given the chance to twice defeat Billam-Smith.

[cormack]

Riakporhe stops CBS for me .

Shane will pull him out if the punches are raining down .

[skanksta]

I reckon RR was a bit lucky on the cards last time.
KD shoulda won a razor-thin SD for me, w/o CBS or draw.

That said, CBS last performance he'd lose fairly clearly.

[joshj909]

Shalom apparently wants it either at Selhurst Park or the Vitality Stadium. Home turf might matter in terms of atmosphere, motivation and possible unconscious influence on judges cards.

[Glass Joe]

hopefully next time the fights are better in the ring at Bournemouth ground rather than in the crowd.

[gregregegg]

I know it’s there little nicknames… but something about sky posting it as the gentleman vs the midnight train feels racisit…. Mabey just racist adjacent haha.

[si7dog7]

I know it’s there little nicknames… but something about sky posting it as the gentleman vs the midnight train feels racisit…. Mabey just racist adjacent haha.

Bit silly really
Richard I think got his nickname from a Radio phone in and he picked it. I might be wrong.

What would be the most offensive nickname match-ups? Deserves its own thread I suppose.

This one though. Nah.

[Monzon83]

This is a good fight. I fancy CBS to just edge it.

[samwbr]

Riakporhe late stoppage. Good fight tho.

[Frostieballs]

I know it’s there little nicknames… but something about sky posting it as the gentleman vs the midnight train feels racisit…. Mabey just racist adjacent haha.

Bit silly really
Richard I think got his nickname from a Radio phone in and he picked it. I might be wrong.

What would be the most offensive nickname match-ups? Deserves its own thread I suppose.

This one though. Nah.

On talkSPORT there is a feature called the midnight train where callers come straight to air.

It used to be hosted by Andy Goldstein (he has moved to drive time now).

They had RR on once and he said he didn’t have a nickname, so they suggested the ‘midnight train’ after the phone in.

They mentioned every time he came back on and eventually it stuck!

[omalley]

What about Okolie--Billam-Smith rematch clause? Is it void now? (I hope so).

[maverick23]

What about Okolie--Billam-Smith rematch clause? Is it void now? (I hope so).

It must be.

You can’t be too happy if you’re Okolie. Has a poor mandatory defence on Sky after the hype of him signing with Boxxer and then does a voluntary against CBS in CBS’s home town, loses his belt in a stinker and then doesn’t get his supposed contractual rematch.

I’m glad the fight’s not happening and would much rather CBS fought Riakporhe but it seems like poor form all the same.

[Noxy]

Good match this. I think RR takes it narrowly.

[SeanBrennan]

good fight, RR has been so inactive though, 34, only 17 fights. I think he wins again though unless Shane figures out tactics to nullify him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Terms Agreed For Chris Billam-Smith-Richard Riakporhe II

Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe have agreed terms for their rematch and are likely to fight in June.

They will contest Billam-Smith’s WBO cruiserweight title five years after, via split decision, Riakporhe inflicted the champion’s only defeat, and await only a date in June and venue before their preparations can be intensified.

“Everything has been agreed upon between the fighters – we are just waiting to agree on a date with the broadcaster [Sky Sports] and we will be ready to go in June,” said Boxxer’s Ben Shalom. “We hope to confirm in the next few days.

“There has been talk of [Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park]. I don’t think it will happen in Bournemouth this time, but it will happen in June.

“We want to make sure everyone is on the same page and has a suitable date that works for everyone. It is a fight that both fighters know they will be having for a long time. It is a rematch – a world title – and a monster occasion.”

Billam-Smith, at 33 a year younger than Riakporhe, won his title from Lawrence Okolie in May 2023 and defended it against Mateusz Masternak of Poland in December. Okolie, 31, had been expected to pursue a rematch, but he has chosen to move to heavyweight and is also waiting for a summer date.

“They told me that it has been tough for them to make cruiserweight in the last three fights,” the promoter continued. “They also think the cruiserweight limit has affected his performance massively, which has not allowed him to be the same fighter.

“Lawrence has a huge opportunity coming up at a higher weight and his dream was to end up at heavyweight. He is a 6’5” guy, so even making cruiserweight like he did was always tough.

“When you get to those stages of your career and making weight is affecting your performances and health that much, he had to move up. We should have news [this] week for a summer fight. He wants to have a good [competitive] fight and prove himself again.”

Asked if Okolie remained with SugarHill Steward, the trainer who oversaw his defeat by Billam-Smith, Shalom responded: “I think that is one for him to answer.”

[Glass Joe]

I wonder if the council/police have stopped CBS fighting at the stadium. There were about 5 seprate figts last year. Some of the fights were better than every fight on the night. Only reason i can think of not happening at Bournemouth. Maybe 02 arena.

[tony1234]

With the Euro football on in June a lot of the target audience might have other interests

[Ruthless-RKO]

Billam-Smith vs. Riakporhe Return Could Co-Headline Yarde-Buatsi Bill

WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith is having to be patient.

Having won his title by dropping and outpointing Lawrence Okolie in his hometown of Bournemouth last May, Billam-Smith defended his crown for the first time against Mateusz Masternak, stopping the Polish challenger in front of his South Coast fans in December.

It was revealed several weeks ago that Billam-Smith’s next fight would be against Richard Riakporhe, but time has gone on and there is still no date or venue.

Both cruiserweights are promoted by Boxxer.

Riakporhe is 17-0 (13 KOs) while Billam-Smith is 19-1 (13 KOs). The two fought back in the O2 Arena in London back in July 2019 with Riakporhe winning a split decision over 10 rounds.

It always seemed likely they would box again, but when and where remains to be seen, although sources have said that Selhurst Park [Crystal Palace’s football stadium] and the O2 are both in the running, although officials have not completely ruled out going to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium again, where Billam-Smith defeated Okolie, although that venue is looking unlikely.

Billam-Smith is trained by Shane McGuigan, who last weekend won the Trainer of the Year Award from the British Boxing Board of Control, almost eight years on from winning it the first time.

But McGuigan admitted Billam-Smith was waiting on the proposed light heavyweight clash between Londoners Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yarde announcement before anything could be finalised for Billam-Smith-Riakporhe II.

“We are waiting on Buatsi vs. Yarde,” said McGuigan. “If it was going to be on [the] Buatsi-Yarde [bill], it would be a co-headline, but we’re sitting and waiting and we’re getting things pushed back a week and another two weeks, so we’re putting our foot down and saying, ‘This is the latest date,’ and it might mean that Chris is headlining and Buatsi and Yarde has to get pushed to another date, so it’s not really our problem.

“The most important thing is keeping momentum and keeping his [Billam-Smith’s] career going forward. I don’t want him to get stale in the gym. He’s been in the gym a while, so we will have a couple of deloading weeks, then we will ramp it up again.”

Billam-Smith is a diligent professional who stays in shape and works on himself as an athlete. The champion’s ongoing search for personal development and growth are what appealed to the trainer when he linked up with McGuigan several years ago.

“He's also always within a certain percentage of his weight, which is great, and that means we’re always there and thereabouts, in striking distance of six weeks or less than six weeks, like we had against Isaac Chamberlain,” McGuigan added. “That just shows that keeping and holding form and holding discipline when you’re just ticking over is really important.”

[SeanBrennan]

who have we got for this? Riakporhe has beat him before but CBS is just so improved since.

[joshj909]

[The_Don1]

who have we got for this? Riakporhe has beat him before but CBS is just so improved since.

I feel like Riakpohre has improved a lot too and has more to come, whereas for me CBS has hit his peak already, he was losing the Masternak fight until the rib injury stoppage, it looked like Masternak was carrying that injury into the fight. I feel it's set up at Selhurst for Riakpohre to get the win, which I think he will do so, via stoppage.

[SeanBrennan]

who have we got for this? Riakporhe has beat him before but CBS is just so improved since.

I feel like Riakpohre has improved a lot too and has more to come, whereas for me CBS has hit his peak already, he was losing the Masternak fight until the rib injury stoppage, it looked like Masternak was carrying that injury into the fight. I feel it's set up at Selhurst for Riakpohre to get the win, which I think he will do so, via stoppage.

I think this is likely. I look forward to it as they're both really good human beings too, hope it is brilliant fight, they make good money and everyone's a winner. I respect Riakpohre for pulling away from Dillian too.

[Glass Joe]

Hard to say feels like Riakporhe is at his peak CBS probably just on the slight decline.
Would say 50/50 I will go to it.

[The_Don1]

who have we got for this? Riakporhe has beat him before but CBS is just so improved since.

I feel like Riakpohre has improved a lot too and has more to come, whereas for me CBS has hit his peak already, he was losing the Masternak fight until the rib injury stoppage, it looked like Masternak was carrying that injury into the fight. I feel it's set up at Selhurst for Riakpohre to get the win, which I think he will do so, via stoppage.

I think this is likely. I look forward to it as they're both really good human beings too, hope it is brilliant fight, they make good money and everyone's a winner. I respect Riakpohre for pulling away from Dillian too.

for sure man, both great role models in their own way, will be a great fight whatever the outcome. Not sure what happened with RR and Dillian, clearly didn't work out for him in the way it did for Wardley, glad Boxxer got him back off the shelf though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Billam-Smith Set To Make Second WBO Title Defense Against Old Foe Riakporhe On June 15

Chris Billam-Smith will make the second defense of his WBO cruiserweight title on June 15 at Selhurst Park against old rival Richard Riakporhe.

The fight has been in the offing for several months, with Billam-Smith keen again to fight in front of his Bournemouth fans at the Vitality Stadium, where he won the crown from Lawrence Okolie last year, but now having to head to Selhurst Park in London.

The champion, 33, and Riakporhe boxed as upcoming prospects in 2019, with Riakporhe winning a split decision at the O2 Arena, a venue that was also in the running to host the rematch.

Billam-Smith defended his title for the first time in December, at the Bournemouth International Centre, with an eighth-round retirement win over tough Polish veteran Mateusz Masternak.

He is trained by Shane McGuigan and is now 19-1 (13 KOs), while the 34-year-old challenger is 17-0 (13 KOs) and last boxed in November, with a routine stoppage win over outgunned Frenchman Dylan Bregeon.

Selhurst Park is the home of Premier League soccer club Crystal Palace and can hold more than 25,000 fans for soccer.

“I’m looking forward to giving the Bournemouth fans an away day to remember with an explosive performance, live on Sky Sports," said Billam-Smith. "Richard is a good fighter, but I’ve improved hugely since we last met and he’s going to be in for a terrible night at Selhurst Park. The WBO belt is coming back with me to Bournemouth.”

“My time has come," countered Riakporhe. "The countdown is on. I’m the runaway ‘Midnight Train’ that you cannot stop and it’s the end of the line for Chris Billam-Smith. I can’t wait to knock Chris out and take his title. I’ve beaten him once and I’m ready to do it again. This time it’s not going to the judges. He’s going to be out cold on the canvas and the world title is going to be staying in South London.

Promoter Ben Shalom was pleased to get the pair together, after Riakporhe had worked his way up to the mandatory position and as the only man to have beaten Billam-Smith to date.

"Chris Billam-Smith has huge support on the south coast, and we expect the AFC Bournemouth faithful to travel in huge numbers to support him as he puts his WBO world title on the line against the only man to beat him," said Shalom. "It’s a dream come true for Richard Riakporhe as he gets his world title shot in front of his fellow Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park.

"With more big fight announcements to follow, this is the event in British boxing not to miss this summer.”