Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe Shock Venue Reported

Kristan Caryl1 min read
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Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe Shock Venue Reported

British cruiserweights Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe are all set for a rematch but reports suggest it could be taking place in a shock venue.

WBO champion Billam-Smith has been on the brink of securing a rematch with Riakorphe for a while as he looks to avenge the sole defeat of his career and defend his world title for the second time.

Back in 2019, Billam-Smith suffered a split-decision loss to Riakorphe, but four years later, he finds himself elevated above his rival to claim the world championship when he secured a win over Lawrence Okolie on a fairy-tale night in his hometown of Bournemouth.

Since then, Billam-Smith has successfully defended his title when Mateusz Masternak was forced to retire due to a rib injury during their bout.

Boxxer Promoter Ben Shalom has since confirmed that Billam-Smith will be participating in one of the most anticipated British matchups of 2024.

Surprisingly, it seems that the fight might not take place in his beloved Bournemouth. Instead, the home of Crystal Palace Football Club has been mooted according to Pro Boxing Fans.

Riakporhe is an ardent supporter of Place so a fight at Selhurst Park would be a dream for him though it would be Billam-Smith’s first match away from his hometown in over two years.

However, it’s anticipated that he will still draw a significant number of passionate fans to South London even though he would go into the fight as an underdog.

Kristan Caryl

Kristan has been writing about music and sport for 20 years. He’s done cover features for the most influential music magazines on the planet, written books about the world’s top DJs and most celebrated clubs, interviewed footballing heroes and profiled Tour de France legends. He joined Boxing Social in the summer of 2023 as a news and feature writer.

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