Chris Billam-Smith Casts Doubt on Jai Opetaia’s Record Amid Fight Delay

WBO cruiserweight title holder Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) most recently retained his title and avenged his only career defeat on June 15 this year, defeating Richard Riakporhe by unanimous decision. Jai Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) who holds the IBF and Ring Magazine titles had been linked with a fascinating unification fight against the Brit – but Opetaia is now set to face Jack Massey on October 12 as part of the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev undercard. Billam-Smith has spoken on Sky Sports’ Toe 2 Toe podcast about the negotiations with the heavy-handed Australian and responded to some of what Opetaia has recently said while questioning the Australian’s fight record.

Chris Billam-Smith vs. Jai Opetaia Rumours

Billam-Smith Talks Opetaia Fight

Despite the rumours swirling that these two cruiserweight mountains will meet in a unification fight, the British fighter has now spoken about why a fight has not been made yet: “That’s the fight people see as the number one [fight] in the division,” Billam-Smith said.

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“The Gentleman” then revealed why the fight hasn’t happened yet: “We’ve both got fights in the meantime but I said, ‘Look, I’ll be ready in November or December.’ He [Opetaia] said we got offered it 10 weeks out and that’s long enough for a camp, and that is right, but I was in America at the start of a three-week holiday. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to start properly training until last week. I then would have had a six or seven-week camp, I think, and Opetaia is a very, very good fighter.”

‘The Gentleman’ Questions Opetaia’s Record

During the interview, Opetaia also questioned the fight record of the Australian: “But I don’t think he’s as good as the hype at the moment. The only name on his record is [Mairis] Briedis; a very good name, but what Briedis was it?”

Read More: Jai Opetaia Drops, Stops Jordan Thompson

He continued: “In the second fight we saw a very old Briedis and in the other one he had been out [of the ring] for a while and there were rumours he was ill and stuff. What Briedis were you getting? Definitely not a prime Briedis.”

It appears the Brit wants a unification next against WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez. He revealed recently to Sky Sports: “‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is the WBA champion. I would love that belt, that’s the one George Groves won. I would love to fight him [Ramirez] out there, he fights out there so that makes it a possibility.”