Following his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has expressed his desire to face Jai Opetaia, aiming to solidify his position as the world's best. His future bouts will 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 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.
"As two of the biggest 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. He added that this potential matchup was a significant factor in his decision to sign with Zuffa, as it will provide him with the opportunity to prove his superiority by defeating the best in the world.
Billam-Smith, who has a multi-fight deal with Zuffa, has been out of the ring for over a year but has been in a training camp since January and is eager to announce his next fight soon. He hopes to secure a fight in the UK, preferably in his hometown of Bournemouth, where he has achieved some of his most notable career highlights, including becoming a world champion in 2023.