Following his recent 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 comes after Billam-Smith's stint as the WBO cruiserweight world titleholder from May 2023 to November 2024, which ended with a loss to Gilberto Ramirez. However, he bounced back with a win over Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Opetaia, also a Zuffa fighter, was crowned the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight champion after defeating Glanton via unanimous decision. Billam-Smith, who has a multi-fight deal with Zuffa, is eager to return to the ring after a year-long hiatus and is training with the goal of securing a fight announcement soon.
He hopes to have the opportunity to fight in the UK, particularly in his hometown of Bournemouth, where he has enjoyed significant career milestones, including becoming a world champion in 2023.