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". Billam-Smith, a former WBO cruiserweight world champion, is now set to fight live on Sky Sports. Having held the title from May 2023 to November 2024, he lost 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 under the same promoter... I've signed with Zuffa to chase certain fights, and that's what I'll be doing." He emphasized that his goal is to prove himself as the best by beating the best, with Opetaia being a primary target. Billam-Smith has a multi-fight deal with Zuffa and has been in a training camp since January, looking to announce his next fight soon. He hopes to return to the ring in the UK, preferably in his hometown of Bournemouth, where he has had some of his most notable career highlights, including becoming a world champion in 2023.