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". This move comes after Billam-Smith's stint as the WBO cruiserweight world title holder from May 2023 to November 2024, which ended with a loss to Gilberto Ramirez. He then 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 victory over Glanton.
Billam-Smith emphasized that being under the same promoter as Opetaia increases the likelihood of a matchup between them, citing his past experiences fighting notable opponents like Richard Riakporhe and Lawrence Okolie. He believes that Zuffa will provide him with the platform to prove his status as the best by competing against top fighters like Opetaia, who is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Billam-Smith has been in a training camp since January and is looking to announce his next fight soon, with the goal of getting back in the ring after a year-long absence and potentially fighting in his hometown of Bournemouth.