Chris Billam‑Smith has made it clear that a bout with Australian cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia is on his radar for the future, provided both fighters emerge victorious from their upcoming engagements. The former world champion has long set his sights on Opetaia, who is widely regarded as the premier talent in the cruiserweight division today. Opetaia is scheduled to face Noel Mikaelian on the undercard of the high‑profile showdown between Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas on September 12.
Billam‑Smith, meanwhile, expects to step back into the ring before the year ends, after which he intends to resume his pursuit of a fight with Opetaia. He believes that the ultimate showdown will materialise in 2027. "I think so. I think I need to get through my next fight and then I'll fight the winner of that, whoever that might be," Billam‑Smith told Sky Sports.
"Mikaelian on his day is a good fighter but I pick Jai to beat him." When asked about the likely timing of his next bout, Billam‑Smith hinted at a November return, possibly in London or Bournemouth, though he declined to name an opponent. He added that the heavyweight landscape is currently busy, noting that David Benavidez is also lining up a December fight in Las Vegas. In addition to his own plans, Billam‑Smith praised the performances on his recent undercard. Cheavon Clarke, who scored a knockout comeback over Jack Massey, caught his eye.
"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," Billam‑Smith said during a Sky Sports interview at a screening of the new boxing drama Fightland. He also reflected on the quality of the Clarke‑Massey fight, calling it "a superb fight which I think was definitely going to win fight of the night – until our fight." Both Clarke and Massey have histories with Billam‑Smith from their amateur days, each having bested him in elite championship finals. Billam‑Smith 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 added that he is open to any opponent, acknowledging the fluid nature of modern boxing contracts: "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's recent career trajectory includes losing his WBO title to Gilberto Ramirez in 2024, followed by a win over Brandon Glanton in his sole fight of the previous year. His June clash with Ryan Rozicki demonstrated that, at 36, he can still compete at a high level. "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 reflected. "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 remains focused on staying active and sharpening his skills, aware that the cruiserweight division is stacked with talent.
While Opetaia's bout with Mikaelian will serve as a benchmark, Billam‑Smith is confident that he can match the Australian's power and technique when the time comes. He believes that consistent competition and incremental improvements in his training camp will keep him in contention for a marquee fight.
The broader boxing calendar for 2026 is packed with major events, and Billam‑Smith hopes to slot his next fight into that schedule without compromising his long‑term goal of a 2027 showdown with Opetaia. He also hinted at potential venues, mentioning London or Bournemouth as likely locations for his November return, though he left the opponent open-ended.
Fans can stay up‑to‑date with Billam‑Smith's progress through streaming platforms such as NOW, which offers contract‑free boxing streams, and by tuning into the weekly Toe2Toe podcast for insider analysis. Highlights and full‑length videos of his recent fights, including the thrilling undercard action, are also available online for those who prefer to watch on a Chrome browser for optimal accessibility. In summary, Chris Billam‑Smith is charting a clear path: secure a win in his upcoming fight, assess the outcome of Opetaia versus Mikaelian, and then set the stage for a high‑stakes encounter with Opetaia, which he predicts will happen in 2027. His determination to settle past amateur defeats, stay competitive in the cruiserweight division, and adapt to the evolving boxing market underscores his commitment to reclaiming a spot among the sport's elite.