[ad_1]
WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) has spoken to Sky Sports about his future plans, together with his anticipated subsequent step towards power-punching rival Richard Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KOs). Billam-Smith additionally mentioned his hopes for after that combat.
Chris Billam-Smith Talks Future Plans
Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe II
The British fighter was final seen within the ring when he defeated Mateusz Masternak on December 10, 2023, in what was a bruising encounter. Following this win, the Bournemouth resident clearly has huge goals he desires to perform, and that may seemingly begin with a title defence and rematch towards Riakporhe. Billam-Smith has agreed to the rematch, and talking on his rival, he mentioned: “I’m unsure how a lot his energy can have improved however I do know mine has a hell of lots.”
Regardless of being the champion, the Londoner is seemingly the favorite by many, to again up his win over the Billam-Smith in 2019. A win within the rematch would transfer the Bournemouth native on to the larger fights he craves: “It might simply wake everybody else up. That’s the way it’s all the time felt with me in my profession. We all know what it’s like being within the ring with me and what I do very well. Quite a lot of it’s unseen by the untrained eye,” Billam-Smith informed Sky Sports activities.
Learn Extra: Five Underrated Cruiserweight Boxers to Look Out for in 2024
He continued: “For us nothing actually adjustments as a result of in my head I’m the favorite inside our group going into the combat and that’s what issues to me. It’s good to be written off by everybody else and show folks incorrect.”
Talking about being underrated, he mentioned: “In some unspecified time in the future folks will begin realising that it’s not simply luck,” he mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t maintain getting fortunate.” He added: “We all know why I’m able to doing it,” he continued. “Fighters don’t maintain attaining, don’t maintain beating folks by pure luck. It comes from arduous work.”
Sending a warning to Riakporhe, he mentioned: “I don’t suppose he’s improved as a lot as I’ve. I additionally suppose the adjustments he’s made are going to go well with me higher on this combat.” Riakporhe is thought for his energy, however Billam-Smith additionally proved his energy in his win over Lawrence Okolie and the win over Masternak. The Bournemouth resident addressed his rival’s energy: “That’s actually the one factor he’s obtained on me, his punch energy and he’ll need to give you much more than that to have the ability to beat me and I don’t suppose he’ll have it.”
Learn Extra: Five All-Action British Fighters to Watch Out for in 2024
Billam-Smith continued: “It could be totally different when folks can take these punches or deal with his energy a bit higher.” Including about expectations of his opponent, he mentioned: “I’ve boxed him earlier than and I used to be by no means damage within the first combat and I took some fairly totally fledged punches.”
“I’m unsure how a lot his energy can have improved however I do know mine has improved a hell of lots.”
Future Ambitions
Regardless of Billam-Smith profitable a world title in his hometown soccer stadium, he harbours huge ambitions and has his eye on the brand new WBA world champion: “That will be wonderful, that actually could be an away day. I’d like to combat within the States,” he mentioned. “Do the entire expertise after which to combat one other belt as effectively could be wonderful.”
Learn Extra: Chris Billam-Smith Scores Devastating KO
Different attainable choices embody a rematch towards Lawrence Okolie if he can come by way of his WBC bridgerweight title combat towards the present champion Lukasz Rozanski on May 24: “I’ve obtained just a few different fights I’d wish to have at cruiserweight earlier than contemplating that. It’s positively an choice,” he mentioned.
“Successful the world title at a soccer stadium, since then I’ve obtained to make some new goals. They’ve obtained to be fairly huge to maintain the motivation excessive after the stadium combat. Nonetheless very, very motivated and looking out ahead to the journey.”
[ad_2]
Source link
