Billam-Smith Sets Sights on Opetaia After Joining Zuffa

Following his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has expressed his desire to face Jai Opetaia, aiming to solidify his position as the best in the world. This move will see him compete live on Sky Sports. Billam-Smith previously held the WBO cruiserweight world title from May 2023 to November 2024, before losing it to Gilberto Ramirez. He rebounded 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. Billam-Smith stated, 'We're two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division, and we're both signed under the same promoter.' He believes that facing Opetaia is a key part of his deal with Zuffa, saying, 'Zuffa will help me prove to everyone else why I'm the best in the world, and that's by beating the best.' With a multi-fight deal in place, Billam-Smith is eager to return to the ring after over a year, having been in a training camp since January. He hopes to announce his next fight soon, with the goal of competing in the UK and potentially in his hometown of Bournemouth.