Billam-Smith Sets Sights on Opetaia After Joining Zuffa

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 will also see him fight 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 he bounced back 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. Billam-Smith stated that he and Opetaia are two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division and that signing with the same promoter increases the likelihood of a fight between them. He emphasized that this bout is a key reason for his decision to join Zuffa, as it will provide him with the opportunity to prove his status as the world's best by beating the best. Having been out of the ring for over a year, Billam-Smith has been in training since January and is looking to announce his next fight soon, with the goal of competing in the UK and potentially in his hometown of Bournemouth.