Following his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has announced his intention to face Jai Opetaia in a bid to solidify his position as the world's best. This move will also see him feature in live fights 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 rebounded 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 win over Glanton.
Billam-Smith expressed his eagerness to fight Opetaia, stating that they are two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division and that fighting him is a key reason he signed with Zuffa. With a multi-fight deal in place, Billam-Smith aims to prove himself as the best in the world by beating the best, and he has been in training since January, looking to announce his next fight soon.