Billam-Smith Sets Sights on Opetaia After Joining Zuffa Boxing

Following his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith is determined to face Jai Opetaia to solidify his position as the world's best boxer, with his fights now set to be broadcast 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 the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London last year. Opetaia, also a Zuffa fighter, recently became the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Glanton. "As two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division and both signed under the same promoter, a fight between us is inevitable," Billam-Smith stated in an interview with Sky Sports News. He emphasized that this matchup is a key reason he signed with Zuffa, aiming to prove his superiority by defeating the best opponents. Billam-Smith, who has a multi-fight deal with Zuffa, has been out of the ring for over a year since his unanimous decision win over Glanton in April last year. Despite the layoff, he has been in a training camp since January and is eager to announce his next fight soon, expressing his desire to compete in the UK and potentially in his hometown of Bournemouth.