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 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 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 are two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division and are signed under the same promoter." He added that this factor played a significant role in his decision to join Zuffa, as it would provide him with the opportunity to prove himself as the best by beating the best, specifically mentioning Opetaia. Billam-Smith has been in a training camp since January and is looking to announce his next fight soon, expressing his desire to return to the ring after a year's absence and potentially fighting in the UK.