What’s subsequent for Chris Billam-Smith? After beating Richard Riakporhe final weekend, he referred to as out for a unification in opposition to WBA king Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. Jai Opetaia holds the IBF title and Noel Mikalian is the WBC champion.
The Bournemouth boxer retains on proving the critics fallacious. After defeating Lawrence Okolie for the WBO cruiserweight title in Might 2023, CBS went into Riakporhe’s manor to defend his belt and acquire revenge. Our man Eric Armit deconstructed the victory, spherical by spherical.
Spherical 1
Each are good jabbers and Riakporhe snaps Billam-Smith’s head again with an early jab then lands a proper. Riakporhe is holding inside. Billam-Smith connects with a proper to the pinnacle and a left hook to the physique. Riakporhe lands a jab and a proper at distance. Riakporhe holding once more and is given two warnings.
Rating: 10-9 Riakporhe
Riakporhe (left) making an attempt to place a dent in champion Chris Billam-Smith (Photograph by Richard Heathcote/Getty Photographs)
Spherical 2
Billam-Smith twice takes Riakporhe to the ropes and lands to the physique. Riakporhe holding once more however no warning. Billam-Smith touchdown jabs and a left uppercut. Riakporhe will get by with a jab and a proper and Billam-Smith replies with a jab and a proper hook.
Rating 10-9 Billam-Smith (TIED 19-19)
Spherical 3
Billam-Smith scores with sharp jabs. Riakporhe is warned for being careless along with his head twice and for a low punch. Billam-Smith will get by with jabs and Riakporhe is warned for head work. Each rating with a jab and Billam-Smith with an uppercut. Too many clinches and Riakporhe is hardly throwing punches.
Rating: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 29-28)
Spherical 4
Each land jabs and Riakporhe lands a proper to the physique. Billam-Smith lands two physique pictures. Riakporhe scores with a few jabs however Billam-Smith lands hooks to the physique. Riakporhe lands a clubbing proper. A detailed spherical.
Rating: 10-9 Riakporhe (TIED 38-38)
Spherical 5
Each land jabs early. Billam-Smith connects with two left hooks to the physique. Billam-Smith lands a few jabs, then a proper to the physique. Riakporhe will get by with a jab however once more, Billam-Smith lands to the physique.
Rating: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 48-47)
Spherical 6
They commerce jabs and Billam-Smith steps in with hooks to the physique. Billam-Smith getting by with jabs and a proper to the ribs. Billam-Smith lands hooks inside. Riakporhe is holding and never working inside however lands a heavy proper.
Rating: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 58-56)
Spherical 7
Riakporhe lands a sneaky proper they usually each rating with jabs. Billam-Smith crashes an uppercut by Riakporhe’s guard and lands a proper to the pinnacle. Billam-Smith lands a few physique pictures. Riakporhe loses his mouthguard.
Billam-Smith lands a very good jab and Riakporhe misses with a proper. Riakporhe is simply not working laborious sufficient and is consistently seeking to clinch. Billam-Smith lands a left hook to the pinnacle. Riakporhe connects with a clubbing proper.
Rating: 10-9 Billam Smith (Billam-Smith 68-65)
Spherical 8
Livelier from Riakporhe as he’s throwing jabs and following with a proper, however he’s quickly holding once more. Billam-Smith scores with two jabs and a proper to the pinnacle. They stand and commerce some laborious headshots, with each connecting, however then Riakporhe shuts down, and Billam-Smith is scoring to the physique. Billam-Smith is working inside, however Riakporhe is simply holding. Billam-Smith curves two punches round Riakporhe’s guard.
Rating: 10-9 Billam Smith (Billam-Smith 78-74)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Chris Billam-Smith punches Richard Riakporhe throughout the WBO World Cruiserweight Title battle between Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park on June 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photograph by Richard Heathcote/Getty Photographs)
Spherical 9
Riakporhe seems like a special fighter when he jabs with authority and is available in behind his jab as he began to do on this spherical. He landed an enormous proper to the pinnacle that shook Billam-Smith however he then landed low and Billam-Smith was given some restoration time. Billam-Smith landed jabs and a proper inside however Riakporhe drove him to a nook and bombarded him with punches. Billam-Smith bought out of the nook and landed jabs and rights to the physique. Riakporhe landed a left hook to the pinnacle however once more simply held.
Rating: 10-9 Riakporhe (Billam-Smith 87-84)
Spherical 10
Billam-Smith pierced Riakporhe’s guard with jabs and Riakporhe related with a strong proper. A sequence of jabs from Billam-Smith compelled Riakporhe again however Riakporhe got here again throwing huge punches that had been off track. Once more, Riakporhe was simply leaning on and holding.
Rating: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 97-93)
Spherical 11
Riakporhe was on the again foot, jabbing effectively and scoring to the physique. Riakporhe was given a robust warning about his headwork. Riakporhe scored with an extended proper to the pinnacle and, after a clinch, landed one other.
Rating: 10-9 Riakporhe (Billam-Smith 106-103)
Spherical 12
Billam-Smith was busy firing jabs by Riakporhe’s guard. Riakporhe once more was doing little or no work and leaning on and holding. Billam-Smith stored pumping out brief punches, with Riakporhe lacking with overhand rights. Riakporhe was warned about driving ahead along with his head and when he did it once more, the referee deducted some extent* and some seconds later warned Riakporhe once more for holding.
Rating: 10-8* Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 116-111)
Official Scores: 115-112 twice and 116-111 for Billam-Smith.
Evaluation
Billam-Smith retains the WBO title and reverses a cut up determination loss to Riakporhe in 2019. He had floored champion Lawrence Okolie thrice when profitable the title and talked about the hope of a unifier in opposition to WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez.
Riakporhe had received his final 5 fights by KO/TKO and this was appeared upon as a fair cash battle. Nevertheless, Riakporhe was a disappointment, simply not working laborious sufficient and losing an excessive amount of power holding. He can nonetheless be a pressure, however he has to do higher than he did on this battle.
