Chris Billam-Smith Reveals What Fight He Wants Next – Unification Fight on the Horizon

On Saturday, June 15, at Selhurst Park, London, England, Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) defeated Richard Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KOs) by unanimous decision. The entire card was available on Peacock in the U.S. and Sky Sports for those in the UK & Ireland. After the fight “The Gentleman” revealed what fight he wants next.

Chris Billam-Smith Targets Gilberto Ramirez Unification Bout

Chris Billam-Smith Wants America After Riakporhe Win

Following his dominating win over Riakporhe, Billam-Smith discussed his next fight potentially being against WBA cruiserweight titlist Gilberto Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs), with the Bournemouth fan willing to travel to the US: “I’d be really honoured. It would be crazy to make more memories out there,” Billam-Smith told Sky Sports News.

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He continued: “I want to fight in America. Every Brit’s dream is obviously to fight in their home football team’s stadium and then go to America. Ricky Hatton had it.”

He added: “‘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.”

Reflecting on Riakporhe Win

Billam-Smith first won his WBO title against Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality stadium, the home of his beloved Bournemouth.

Reflecting on what the difference was, Billam-Smith said: “Everything through my career. The experience and the tough fights, the bad performances, the good performances.”

He added: “The experience I had being around George Groves, Luke Campbell, Josh Taylor. Barry McGuigan comes and watches most spars, if not all of them, when you’ve got that knowledge around you and that experience around you, you’re constantly learning and that’s why the gym has so much success because we’ve got that conveyor belt of champions.”

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The champion also praised his trainer: “The gameplan was perfect,” he said. “[Felt] really comfortable throughout. Hadloads of energy left. The gameplan was don’t waste energy, don’t try and force the fight.”

Billam-Smith has conquered his fellow Brits, it is now time for “The Gentleman” to take over the rest of the world, and Ramirez is the first name on his list.