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". Billam-Smith, a former WBO cruiserweight world champion, is set to compete live on Sky Sports. His tenure as champion lasted from May 2023 to November 2024, until he lost to Gilberto Ramirez, but 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 added that fighting Opetaia is a key reason for signing with Zuffa, saying, "It's definitely very high up that list... Zuffa will help me prove to everyone else why I'm the best in the world, and that's by beating the best." Having not fought in over a year, Billam-Smith, who has a multi-fight deal with Zuffa, has been in training camp since January and is eager to announce his next fight soon. He expressed his desire to fight in the UK, particularly in his hometown of Bournemouth, where he has had some of his most notable career victories, including becoming a world champion in 2023.