Following his recent signing with Zuffa Boxing, Chris Billam-Smith has expressed his desire to face Jai Opetaia, aiming to prove himself as the world's best in the cruiserweight division. Billam-Smith, a former WBO cruiserweight champion, held the title from May 2023 to November 2024 before losing it to Gilberto Ramirez.
He then secured a win over Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Opetaia, also a Zuffa fighter, recently became the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Glanton.
Billam-Smith stated that he and Opetaia are two of the biggest names in the cruiserweight division and that a fight between them is likely. He emphasized that this matchup is a key reason he signed with Zuffa, as it will provide him with the opportunity to prove himself as the world's best by defeating the best opponents. Having not fought in 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.