Following his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has expressed his desire to face Jai Opetaia in a bid to solidify his position as the world's best. This move will see Billam-Smith compete live on Sky Sports. Having previously held the WBO cruiserweight world title from May 2023 to November 2024, Billam-Smith suffered a loss to Gilberto Ramirez but bounced back with a win over Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. 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 most prominent names in the cruiserweight division and are now under the same promoter." He added that his deal with Zuffa will facilitate his goal of proving himself as the best in the world by competing against top opponents like Opetaia. With a multi-fight deal in place, Billam-Smith is eager to return to the ring after a year-long absence, having been in training since January, and is looking forward to an imminent fight announcement.