2 weeks ago
WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith is relishing nan chance to "avenge" nan only nonaccomplishment connected his master grounds against Richard Riakporhe connected 15 June.
The 33-year-old will look nan undefeated Riakporhe successful a rematch of their 2019 encounter.
"There’s added information for sure," Billam-Smith told BBC Sport.
"I want to avenge nan loss, get this mandatory retired nan measurement and past we tin look astatine unifications successful America."
When nan 2 English boxers met backmost successful 2019, Riakporhe, 34, was victorious successful a divided determination triumph that saw Billam-Smith suffer a opinionated count successful nan seventh round.
Riakporhe, aliases 'The Midnight Train' arsenic he is known, won nan WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title connected nan night, but this clip they will beryllium fighting for world honours.
Both fighters person gone connected to impressment since, Riakporhe winning 7 times and Billam-Smith 10.
'The Gentleman' Billam-Smith besides picked up nan WBO world title past summertime erstwhile he defeated Lawrence Okolie successful his hometown astatine Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium.
Billam-Smith will conflict successful a stadium for nan 2nd summertime moving erstwhile Selhurst Park hosts nan world title fight, marking nan 100-year day of nan stadium being built.
Crystal Palace president - Steve Parish - was keen to person Riakporhe conflict astatine nan stadium arsenic he is simply a large protagonist of nan Premier League side.
"There's a typical type of power successful southbound London," Riakporhe said.
"Of people location is unit that comes pinch it but without unit I wouldn't beryllium wherever I americium today.
"Pressure is basal for maine to strive for greatness, I'm coming for this guy, you're each going to see."
His past 3 results person ended via method knockout aliases consecutive knockout, and his grounds stands astatine 17-0.
Billam-Smith has fought conscionable erstwhile since his world title triumph successful nan summertime of 2023, beating Mateusz Masternak astatine nan Bournemouth International Centre successful December, breaking nan Pole's rib and forcing him to discontinue connected his stool earlier nan commencement of nan eighth round.
The Bournemouth man has 19 wins to his sanction aft 20 bouts, his grounds holding conscionable that singular anomaly - conclusion to Riakporhe.
"It's what dreams are made of, fighting for a world title astatine a stadium it's a typical 50/50 fight," Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom said of nan contest.
"Steve Parish and Crystal Palace saw this imagination from erstwhile we said 2 years ago, they want to person a show acquisition astatine nan stadium this summer."
Since Billam-Smith signed pinch Shalom's Boxxer, he has fought each 4 of his bouts successful Bournemouth.
June's conflict successful London marks nan first clip since early 2022 that he will conflict distant from his hometown, wherever Billam-Smith has built a beardown instrumentality base.
"It gives maine moreover much information pinch thing a spot different," Billam-Smith said.
"But I'm buzzing for an distant time and I deliberation a batch of nan supporters are too."
