By Declan Taylor
CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH has welcomed the ‘biggest fight in the division’ against Jai Opetaia but warned the Australian that he will not be rushed into an October date.
The Bournemouth man successfully defended his WBO cruiserweight title against Richard Riakporhe and avenged the only defeat of his career via unanimous decision at Selhurst Park in June.
But attention has already turned to his next fight with a unification targeted by the 34-year-old late this year.
IBF champion Opetaia, meanwhile, is now eying a first defence of the title he won by beating Mairis Briedis in May and has previously revealed he wants to win the WBO belt more than any other in the division.
The 29-year-old declared during a recent interview that his team have made a seven-figure offer for the fight and accused Billam-Smith of ducking the chance to face him.
However, in an exclusive interview with Boxing News, CBS insisted he wants that fight more than any other in the division but that he will not be ready to fight until later in the year.
Billam-Smith said: “I saw a bit of the call-out video. To be honest I was watching it in bed, reading the captions and reading his words.
“I think they wanted it on October 12 and I’m not going to shorten my camp for anyone. I haven’t done it ever in my career except for when I absolutely needed to with Isaac Chamberlain.
“That was because I’d just had a son and I had an offer to headline on Sky in Bournemouth, I had to take it. But this I don’t have to take, I’m in a good position; every other champion in the division has called me out in the last six months and two of them in the last week or two.
“I’m happy to fight him. I’m going to be ready in November/December. Obviously, you’ve got the December card, and I’m happy to fight him then. The team will deal with the rest of it.
“I think they’re just trying to rush me into an earlier fight than what I’m going to be ready for but I’ve just beaten my mandatory, I’m in a good position, there’s other champions calling me out and other avenues.”
Riydah, Saudi Arabia: Jai Opetaia v Ellis Zorro, Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Title Fight. 23 December 2023. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing. Jai Opetaia knocks out Ellis Zorro in the 1st round.
Billam-Smith has also been linked with a Stateside unification with WBA champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez but he is adamant Opetaia is his No.1 target.
“It would probably mean more than a Zurdo fight in terms of what it brings to the sport – it’s the best fight in the division that cant be made. That really gives me goosebumps being involved in those fights,” Billam-Smith added.
“Ideally we’d want the Opetaia fight but if he can only do October 12 and I can only do November/December then it’s not going to happen.
“It’s the fight in the division that everyone wants to see – it’s a great position to be in. I know everyone is writing me off in that fight but as we saw in my last fight and also against Lawrence Okolie that’s when I’m up for springing an upset.
“Ideally you’d want it for undisputed but it’s a fight I don’t want to miss out on if he wants to fight someone else in a different weight division. I’d rather us have that next.
“Everyone calls him the king of the division so I’d be more up for that fight, probably.”
