Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe collide in one of many largest all-British fights of the yr this Saturday – here is all you’ll want to know forward of their cruiserweight world title showdown.
When is the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe struggle?
Riakporhe will problem Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight world title in the primary occasion on Saturday June 15, with followers in a position to tune in to observe a bumper undercard from 6.30pm dwell on Sky Sports activities Motion or stream immediately with NOW.
The place is the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe struggle going down?
Billam-Smith loved the outburst of assist from his dwelling followers when he dethroned former world champion Lawrence Okolie at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium final yr. Now it’s the flip of Riakporhe to absorb the love of his south London trustworthy when he welcomes Billam-Smith to Selhurst Park, the house of his workforce Crystal Palace.
What to learn about each fighters?
Billam-Smith arrives as defending WBO cruiserweight world champion having clinched the belt by beating Okolie through majority choice after flooring the Londoner thrice in Bournemouth again in Could 2023. He has since retained the title by beating Mateusz Masternak following the Polish fighter’s eighth-round retirement in December.
Riakporhe is available in because the challenger with an ideal file to his identify having stopped every of his final 5 opponents, most just lately knocking out Dylan Bregeon within the second spherical in November.
Chris Billam-Smith stats
- Age: 33
- Top: 6ft 3in
- Whole fights: 20
- Document: 19-1 (13 KOs)
Richard Riakporhe stats
- Age: 34
- Top: 6ft 5in
- Whole fights: 17
- Document: 17-0 (13 KOs)
The place does the rivalry come from?
There may be historical past there. Riakporhe famously handed Billam-Smith the one defeat of his skilled profession up to now when he edged a split-decision victory at The O2 in July 2019.
Billam-Smith has since frequently disputed the choice, with the judges scoring the struggle 97-92, 95-94 and 93-96 in favour of Riakporhe.
Whereas it has served as a distinguished speaking level throughout the build-up, each males have performed down recommendations their first struggle will maintain any affect heading into Saturday.
Who’s on the undercard?
The Ben Whittaker present resumes because the Olympian encounters shock challenger Ezra Arenyeka, who made a reputation for himself by gatecrashing his opponent’s press convention forward of his final struggle towards Leon Willings. In doing so the undefeated Arenyeka talked his approach to a shot towards rising star Whittaker, who’s trying to ship a message to any fighter pondering of doing the identical factor.
Whittaker is 7-0 as knowledgeable following his unanimous-decision win over Willings in March, whereas Arenyeka enters 12-0.
Dan Azeez (20-1, 13 KOs) returns to motion for the primary time since February’s unanimous choice loss to Joshua Buatsi when he fights Hrvoje Sep (12-2).
Isaac Chamberlain (16-2, 8 KOs) challenges Poland’s Michal Cieslak (25-2, 19 KOs) for the European cruiserweight title following October’s win over Mikael Lawal to change into British and Commonwealth champion.
Francesca Hennessy (3-0) additionally continues her rise to stardom, with the 19-year-old bantamweight prospect having emerged as one of the crucial thrilling skills in boxing.
What has been mentioned?
Chris Billam-Smith:
“If there’s more pressure on me then brilliant. I said that last year there was no more pressure in my career than that fight [against Okolie]. I loved it and I loved the pressure, and for me there’s this huge amount of pressure on me in this fight because there’s a legacy at stake.
“Me and Richard are the final two of the present crop of cruiserweights. Richard is the final one on the present British cruiserweight hitlist and I’ve simply received to recover from the road.
“I feel he is an enormous step from the place he is been by way of headlining, the kind of opponent, the expertise that his opponents have had previously and the place they’re at of their profession.
“This is a very hungry version of me. I’m a much better fighter than I was last time, that’s for sure, and much better than anyone he’s faced. I think it’s a big, big leap in levels.
“He thought he knew who I used to be, however within the final 18 months, I am a very completely different animal. The arrogance has come on in leaps and bounds since we final fought, I am a harmful man and everybody is aware of that.”
Richard Riakporhe:
“He is received one loss on the file, on his spectacular file. I am simply going to do it once more, that is the plan. I have to double that quantity, that is the purpose, that is my aim.
“What makes it so significantly better and tantalising is that there is a world title belt on the road. I’ve the boldness already as a result of I beat him already. However as a result of this world title’s on the road, I really feel like I am simply able to go to a different place.
“I want to put on a performance that cannot be questioned. People are going to know the difference between me and ‘The Gentleman’. There’s a big difference. I believe that I’m a level above.
“I do consider that energy is sufficient to cope with Chris Billam-Smith. My energy specifically is sufficient to cope with him. Regardless of whether or not he is profitable rounds or not. I simply have to land the proper shot and he is gone.
“I’m going for the KO, that’s all I want to do. Chris Billam-Smith has made a big mistake. He’s going to be looking back 20 years from now, regretting taking this fight and I’m going to still be visiting him in his dreams like Freddy Krueger.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith defend his WBO cruiserweight world title towards Richard Riakporhe at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, dwell on Sky Sports activities on Saturday June 15; Ben Whittaker and Dan Azeez function on the undercard. You can even stream the occasion by way of NOW TV.