Billam-Smith Sets Sights on Opetaia After Zuffa Signing

Following his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has expressed his desire to face Jai Opetaia, aiming to solidify his position as the world's best. This move will see him fight live on Sky Sports. Billam-Smith previously held the WBO cruiserweight world title from May 2023 to November 2024, losing it to Gilberto Ramirez, but he bounced back with a win over Brandon Glanton at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year. Opetaia, also a Zuffa fighter, recently became the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Glanton. Billam-Smith stated, 'We are two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division and are signed under the same promoter.' He drew parallels with his past fights against Richard Riakporhe and Lawrence Okolie, emphasizing that this matchup is a natural progression. Billam-Smith's deal with Zuffa is multifaceted, with a key aspect being the opportunity to prove himself as the world's best by defeating top opponents like Opetaia. Having been out of the ring for over a year since his unanimous decision win over Glanton, Billam-Smith, who has a multi-fight deal with Zuffa, has been in training since January and is eager to announce his next fight soon. He expressed his desire to return to the ring, preferably in the UK, and to eventually fight in his hometown of Bournemouth, where he has enjoyed significant career highlights, including becoming a world champion in 2023.