What's next for Chris Billam-Smith? After beating Richard Riakporhe last weekend, he asked for a unification against WBA king Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez. Jai Opetaia holds the IBF title and Noel Mikalian is the WBC champion.
The Bournemouth boxer continues to prove the naysayers wrong. After defeating Lawrence Okolie for the WBO cruiserweight title in May 2023, CBS entered Riakporhe's place to defend his belt and get revenge. Our person Eric Armit he ended up winning, all around.
Round 1
Both are good jabbers and Riakporhe cuts off Billam-Smith's head with a jab early on and lands a right. Riakporhe held inside. Billam-Smith connects with a right to the head and a left hook to the body. Riakporhe lands a jab and a right away. Riakporhe catches again and is given two cautions.
Score: 10-9 Riakporhe
Riakporhe (left) tries to shadow champion Chris Billam-Smith (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Round 2
Billam-Smith double takes Riakporhe into the ropes and drops him to the body. Riakporhe grabs again but no warning. Billam-Smith landing jabs and a left uppercut. Riakporhe finishes with a right jab and Billam-Smith responds with a jab and right hook.
Score 10-9 Billam-Smith (TIED 19-19)
Round 3
Billam-Smith makes sharp points. Riakporhe is cautioned for a double header and a low punch. Billam-Smith finishes with jabs and Riakporhe is warned for big work. Both jab and Billam-Smith with an uppercut. Too many clinches and Riakporhe can't throw punches.
Score: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 29-28)
Round 4
Both land jabs and Riakporhe lands a right to the body. Billam-Smith was shot twice in the body. Riakporhe scores with a few jabs but Billam-Smith sticks to the body. Riakporhe gets the clubbing right. A close cycle.
Score: 10-9 Riakporhe (TIED 38-38)
Round 5
Both leave early. Billam-Smith connects with two left hooks to the body. Billam-Smith lands a few jabs, then a right to the body. Riakporhe comes through with a jab but again, Billam-Smith lands to the body.
Score: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 48-47)
Round 6
They trade jabs and Billam-Smith steps in with hooks to the body. Billam-Smith comes through with a jab and a right to the ribs. Billam-Smith lands hooks inside. Riakporhe holds and does not work inside but has a heavy right.
Score: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 58-56)
Round 7
Riakporhe lands a tricky right and both hit jabs. Billam-Smith hits a cross over the Riakporhe keeper and lands a right to the head. Billam-Smith photographed several bodies. Riakporhe loses his mouth guard.
Billam-Smith lands a nice jab and Riakporhe misses with a right. Riakporhe doesn't work hard enough and is always on the lookout for submissions. Billam-Smith lands a left hook to the head. Riakporhe connects on the right side of the clubbing.
Score: 10-9 Billam Smith (Billam-Smith 68-65)
Round 8
Livelier from Riakporhe as he throws jabs and follows with a right, but soon catches up again. Billam-Smith scores with two jabs and a right to the head. They stand and trade hard headshots, with both connecting, but then Riakporhe closes, and Billam-Smith scores to the body. Billam-Smith works inside, but Riakporhe just holds on. Billam-Smith swings two punches past Riakporhe's guards.
Score: 10-9 Billam Smith (Billam-Smith 78-74)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Chris Billam-Smith beats Richard Riakporhe in the WBO World Cruiserweight title fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park on June 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Round 9
Riakporhe looks like a different fighter when he's striking with authority and getting behind his jab as he's done in this round. He landed a big right to the head that shook Billam-Smith but then Billam-Smith sat down and was given time to recover. Billam-Smith swung once inside the right but Riakporhe drove him to the corner and punched him. Billam-Smith came out of the corner and clashed with rights to the body. Riakporhe landed a left hook to the head but caught himself again.
Score: 10-9 Riakporhe (Billam-Smith 87-84)
Round 10
Billam-Smith pierced Riakporhe's guard with jabs and Riakporhe connected with a right. A series of jabs from Billam-Smith forced Riakporhe back but Riakporhe came back throwing big punches that were off target. Again, Riakporhe was just leaning in and holding on.
Score: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 97-93)
Round 11
Riakporhe was on the back foot, jumping well and scoring from the body. Riakporhe was given a stern warning about his big job. Riakporhe scored with a long right to the head and, after the clinch, landed another.
Score: 10-9 Riakporhe (Billam-Smith 106-103)
Round 12
Billam-Smith was busy shooting Riakporhe's guard. Riakporhe also does very little work and leans and sticks. Billam-Smith kept landing short punches, Riakporhe absent due to extra rights. Riakporhe was cautioned for heading forward and when he repeated it, the referee awarded a point* and a few seconds later cautioned Riakporhe for holding.
Score: 10-8* Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 116-111)
Official Scores: 115-112 double and 116-111 for Billam-Smith.
Analysis
Billam-Smith retains the WBO title and postpones Riakporhe's 2019 split decision. He knocked out three-time champion Lawrence Okolie during his title win and has expressed hope for a rematch against WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez.
Riakporhe had won his last five fights by KO/TKO and this was considered an even money fight. However, Riakporhe is disappointing, not working hard enough and wasting too much energy. He can still be strong, but he needs to do better than what he did in this fight.
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