Billam-Smith Sets Sights on Opetaia After Zuffa Signing

Following his recent 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 also see him fighting 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 most prominent names in the cruiserweight division and being under the same promoter, a fight between us is inevitable," Billam-Smith stated in an interview with Sky Sports News. "My history of competing against top opponents under the same promoter, such as Richard Riakporhe and Lawrence Okolie, demonstrates that these high-profile matches are a certainty. To get the latest sports news, features, and analysis, follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp. "This opportunity is a key aspect of my deal with Zuffa, and a major reason I signed with them. My goal is to prove I'm the best by defeating the best, and everyone considers Jai Opetaia to be the best in the world. "Now that we're both signed with Zuffa, I'll be pursuing this fight. I've joined forces with promoters in the past to secure specific matches, and this will be my primary objective." Billam-Smith, who has a multi-fight agreement with Zuffa, has been out of the ring for over a year since his unanimous decision win over Glanton in April. Some of the highlights of his career have taken place in his hometown of Bournemouth, including his world championship win in 2023 against Lawrence Okolie. Despite his 12-month hiatus, Billam-Smith has been in a training camp since January and is looking to announce his next fight soon. "I'm eager to get back in the ring, and we're working on making that happen in the UK. I'd love to compete in Bournemouth again; it's been nearly three years since my last fight there. My focus is on getting back to fighting and then securing the big matches." Tune in to Sky Sports to watch Alycia Baumgardner vs Bo Mi Re Shin live from Madison Square Garden, starting at 3am on Saturday. If you don't have Sky, you can stream the fight and more without a contract.