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. This move will see him compete 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.
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 this matchup is a key reason he signed with Zuffa, seeking to prove himself as the world's best by defeating the best opponents. With a multi-fight deal in place, Billam-Smith, who has been out of the ring for over a year, has been in training since January and is looking to announce his next fight soon, ideally in the UK.