Chris Billam‑Smith has made it clear that a showdown with Australian cruiserweight Jai Opetaia is on his radar for the future, provided both fighters emerge victorious from their upcoming contests. The former world champion has long set his sights on Opetaia, who is widely regarded as the premier cruiserweight in the division today. Opetaia is slated to face Noel Mikaelian on the undercard of the Conor Benn versus Ryan Garcia event in Las Vegas on September 12. Billam‑Smith, meanwhile, is expected to return to the ring before the year ends, after which he intends to resume his pursuit of a bout with Opetaia.
In his view, the clash is likely to materialise in 2027. Speaking to Sky Sports, Billam‑Smith explained his plan: "I think so.
I need to get through my next fight and then I'll fight the winner of that, whoever that might be." He added confidence in his own abilities, stating, "Mikaelian on his day is a good fighter but I pick Jai to beat him." Billam‑Smith also offered his assessment of Mikaelian, noting that while the challenger has a respectable résumé, his recent performances suggest a slight decline: "It might take him a few rounds to set the pace and obviously Mikaelian's got some good names on his record, has some good performances but I feel like he's slowed down a little bit and gone a little bit past it now." Regarding his own schedule, Billam‑Smith hinted at a possible return in November, likely in London or Bournemouth, though he did not confirm the exact opponent: "Looking most probably around November time. I think it will be London or Bournemouth. Don't know who yet. The champions seem a bit tied up, I think David Benavidez is lining up a fight for December as well in Vegas, I believe." The British fighter also reflected on the undercard action from his previous bout with Ryan Rozicki, where Cheavon Clarke earned a knockout victory over Jack Massey.
Billam‑Smith praised Clarke’s performance, recalling their amateur rivalry: "Obviously Chev won on my undercard. He's got two amateur wins over me so from a competitor's point of view I'd very much like to get one back," he told Sky Sports during a screening of the new boxing drama Fightland.
He added, "Clarke‑Massey was a superb fight which I think was definitely going to win fight of the night – until our fight." Both Clarke and Massey had previously bested Billam‑Smith in elite championship finals during their amateur careers. The former champion expressed a desire for redemption: "I owe him one and I feel like that does the Jack Massey one in the ABA final as well.
Both of those have beaten me in an ABA final. That would put that to bed so that would be nice," he said. "I'm up for whoever. Zuffa are signing people all the time so you just don't know who's going to pop up out the woodwork and get offered.
So we will see on that front." Billam‑Smith lost his WBO cruiserweight title to Gilberto Ramirez in 2024, but he rebounded with a win over Brandon Glanton in his sole fight of the following year. His most recent high‑profile clash, a thunderous bout against Ryan Rozicki in June, demonstrated that the 36‑year‑old still possesses the stamina and skill to compete at the elite level. Reflecting on that fight, Billam‑Smith admitted that complacency would have cost him dearly: "I think if I'd taken my foot off the gas and was just sort of coasting I would definitely have been beat that night. I think that's the important thing to take away from my point of view." He emphasized the need for relentless preparation, saying, "I had to be switched on and pushing the training as I do and looking for different ways to improve.
I'm on it. And I'm still getting better." Looking ahead, Billam‑Smith’s ultimate goal remains a bout with Opetaia.
He believes the timing will align once both fighters have cleared their current obligations and proven themselves against other top contenders. The prospect of a 2027 showdown has generated excitement among fans, who anticipate a clash of styles between Billam‑Smith’s seasoned, power‑driven approach and Opetaia’s technical precision.
In addition to his own fight plans, Billam‑Smith highlighted the broader boxing landscape, noting upcoming events such as the 2026 schedule of major fights, streaming options via NOW, and the weekly Toe2Toe podcast that offers insights into the sport. He also mentioned the upcoming broadcast of Fightland on Sky and NOW on August 27, which will provide further exposure for both his career and the sport at large. Overall, Billam‑Smith’s roadmap involves a late‑year return, a potential November bout in the UK, and a strategic pursuit of the Opetaia fight in 2027, all while staying active in a dynamic boxing environment that continues to produce new talent and exciting match‑ups.