Now Chris Billam-Smith is the WBO cruiserweight champion he could be move up a division and put himself in line to challenge the Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois winner; “Never say never,” Billam-Smith notes; but he is looking for a “monumental” rematch with Richard Riakporhe
Play Video – Billam-Smith targets Riakporhe unification fight | ‘That would be huge’Chris Billam-Smith says a rematch with Lawrence Okolie could be on the cards, followed by a possible unification bout with Richard Riakporhe
Chris Billam-Smith, the new WBO cruiserweight champion, could consider an unexpected move up to heavyweight, although a rematch with sole professional conqueror Richard Riakporhe remains hugely appealing.
As a WBO titlist, moving up in weight would put Billam-Smith in line for an eventual mandatory shot at its belt in the division above. In other words he could choose to step up to heavyweight and aim for a shot at the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois.
He told Sky Sports: “We’ll see [regarding his next move at cruiserweight] or I’ll just move up and fight the Usyk vs Dubois winner as the mandatory for the WBO. The options are there, thankfully.”
The Bournemouth star insists he would not fear the prospect of boxing Usyk. While acknowledging the Ukrainian’s formidable skillset, he feels the size difference would not be much of an issue, even if a long-term move to heavyweight could be a step too far.
Source: www.skysports.com
