Following his recent signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has expressed his desire to face Jai Opetaia, aiming to prove himself as the world's best in the cruiserweight division. Billam-Smith, a former WBO cruiserweight world champion, held the title from May 2023 to November 2024 before losing it to Gilberto Ramirez. He then rebounded with a win over Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Opetaia, also a Zuffa fighter, became the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight champion after defeating Glanton via unanimous decision.
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 his deal with Zuffa will help him prove his status as the world's best by beating the best, with Opetaia being his primary target. 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 looking to announce his next fight soon.