LONDON — Chris Billam-Smith believes cruiserweight rival Richard Riakporhe will pose less of a challenge than Lawrence Okolie when they go head to head later this year.
WBO champion Billam-Smith knocked Okolie down three times before claiming a majority decision victory at the Vitality Stadium last year.
The Bournemouth fighter, who suffered his only professional loss to Riakporhe in a narrow points defeat in 2019, has been handed a rematch with his former foe.
Billam-Smith claims Riakporhe’s only real threat is his power, insisting he will not be out-boxed by the mandatory challenger.
The two Brits first clashed in 2019, with the fight going the distance and Riakporhe being announced the winner in a split decision.
Billam-Smith has since gone on to reach new heights, claiming the WBO strap in May last year, after 12 gruelling rounds against fellow Brit, Lawrence Okolie.
“I think Okolie is a better fighter than Riakporhe,” Billam-Smith told the PA news agency.
“Stylistically Okolie is the much harder fight. He’s a lot harder to hit clean, which makes this fight more exciting for the fans because there will be less holding.
“The only thing he’s (Riakporhe) got over me is one-punch power. I think that is his only hope to be honest and I can’t see him out-boxing me, breaking me down or anything like that.
It appears the fight has all but been officially announced, with Riakporhe revealing the fight is being scheduled for June 15.
“Okolie also had one-punch power over me and I won that fight, but it doesn’t mean I can’t punch as I continue to prove.
“I don’t think he’s had that much experience in terms of that top level. He’s had a few good domestic wins. That win against Deion Jumah is probably his best win to be honest with you.
“At the top level I’ve faced a lot of adversity in my career and I think that will be the difference.”
Since their last fight five years ago, Billam-Smith (19-1-0) has gone on a 10-fight winning streak, claiming notable victories over Isaac Chamberlain, Okolie and Mateusz Masternak along the way.
And the 33-year-old now wants to make amends for the only blemish on his professional record.
“It’s a fight which will really top the last few years off for me,” he said. “He’s given me the only defeat on my record and it will be nice to set that straight.
“When you look at the cruiserweight scene it clears everything up domestically, it cleans this golden generation we have up at the moment and it leaves me on top, so that’s the motivation for me.
“This fight is big for my career and for my legacy. I’m a world champion and I want to stay as one. This is the best cruiserweight scene we’ve ever had, so for me to come out on top of that would be massive for me.
“Richard’s got the win over me, I need to put that right, I need to put it to bed and I’m excited for that prospect.”
Last December, Billam-Smith defended his WBO World Cruiserweight Championship after defeating Mateusz Masternak, a former European, IBF, and WBA Intercontinental Champion.
The bout was entertaining, as Masternak moved quickly and consistently outmatched the reigning champion.
For a while, it appeared as though Billam-Smith would lose his crown. However, the 33-year-old persevered, and with his body approach, he made a significant breakthrough in round seven.
Masternak was obviously feeling the shots to his belly, which is where he got the rib damage.
Without a doubt, some of his harsher critics would refer to Masternak as a “quitter,” yet fractured ribs must hurt unbearably.
The only opponent to defeat Billam-Smith was Richard Riakporhe, and that victory came by a close decision back in July 2019.
It appears that Smith will face Riakporhe again in their upcoming bout. Following their fight, both men discussed the likely upcoming rematch.
“We’ll see [if I call Riakporhe for the fight]. Christmas! I want to be undisputed. I would be very keen for that fight. I never shy away from a fight. Me and Rich have boxed before but that was a different me. It would be an amazing rematch. He might look at tonight and fancy his chances so bring it on,” said Billam-Smith in media reports.
“The shots he was being hit with by Masternak weren’t heavy shots but you could see it was hurting him,” said Riakporhe.
“If I land one of those shots, how’s he going to react? How’s he going to react from a jab from me, or a right hand or a hook from me? It’s going to be very dangerous. I mean literally I’ve been dreaming of hurting him really bad. Really, really bad. And from what I’ve seen here, I know I can,” Riakporhe added.
