WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith seems set to finally land the rematch with Richard Riakorphe, as ‘The Gentleman’ seeks to avenge the lone defeat of his career and make a second defence of his world title.
Billam-Smith lost a split-decision to the Londoner back in 2019, but four years later found that he had leapfrogged his rival to the world championship, defeating Lawrence Okolie by majority-decision for a fairy-tale night in his hometown of Bournemouth.
Since that night, CBS has made one defence of his belt, where Mateusz Masternak was forced to retire due to a rib injury. Boxxer Promoter Ben Shalom has now confirmed that Billam-Smith will take part in one of 2024’s standout British clashes.
It may not be in his beloved Bournemouth though, breaking a run of four consecutive fights in the seaside town for the champion, Boxing Scene reports in an interview with Shalom.
“Everything has been agreed upon between the fighters – we are just waiting to agree on a date with the broadcaster [Sky Sports] and we will be ready to go in June.
“There has been talk of [Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park]. I don’t think it will happen in Bournemouth this time, but it will happen in June.
“We want to make sure everyone is on the same page and has a suitable date that works for everyone. It is a fight that both fighters know they will be having for a long time. It is a rematch – a world title – and a monster occasion.”
A fight staged at Selhurt Park, home of Riakporhe’s treasured Crystal Palace, would be the first boxing event at the venue since 1951 when Wales’ Eddie Thomas knocked out Eric McQuade in the fourth-round of a middleweight match-up.