Chris Billam-Smith ponders unions after Riakporhe’s revenge win

What’s next for Chris Billam-Smith? After his victory over Richard Riakporhe last weekend, he called for a unification fight 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 critics wrong. After defeating Lawrence Okolie for the WBO cruiserweight title in May 2023, CBS headed to Riakporhe’s land to defend his belt and get revenge. Our man Eric Armit deconstructed the victory round by round.

Round 1

Both are good jabbers and Riakporhe snaps Billam-Smith’s head back with an early jab and then lands a right. Riakporhe stays inside. Billam-Smith lands a right to the head and a left hook to the body. Riakporhe lands a jab and a right from range. Riakporhe again holds and receives two warnings.

Result: 10-9 Riakporhe

Riakporhe (left) tries to put a damper on champion Chris Billam-Smith (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

round 2

Billam-Smith pushes Riakporhe into the ropes twice and lands to the body. Riakporhe holds on again, but without warning. Billam-Smith lands jabs and a left uppercut. Riakporhe comes through with a jab and a right hook and Billam-Smith answers with a jab and a right hook.

Result 10-9 Billam-Smith (TIED 19-19)

Round 3

Billam-Smith scores with sharp jabs. Riakporhe is cautioned for two careless headworks and a low blow. Billam-Smith gets through with jabs and Riakporhe is cautioned for headwork. Both score with a jab and Billam-Smith with an uppercut. Too many clinches and Riakporhe hardly throws a punch.

Result: Billam-Smith 10:9 (Billam-Smith 29:28)

Round 4

Both land jabs and Riakporhe lands a right to the body. Billam-Smith lands two body shots. Riakporhe scores with a couple of jabs, but Billam-Smith lands hooks to the body. Riakporhe lands a right club. A close round.

Result: 10-9 Riakporhe (TIED 38-38)

Round 5

Both land jabs early. Billam-Smith lands two left hooks to the body. Billam-Smith lands a couple of jabs, then a right to the body. Riakporhe gets through with a jab, but Billam-Smith lands another body shot.

Result: Billam-Smith 10:9 (Billam-Smith 48:47)

Round 6

They trade jabs and Billam-Smith connects with hooks to the body. Billam-Smith comes through with jabs and a right to the ribs. Billam-Smith lands hooks inside. Riakporhe holds and doesn’t work inside, but lands a heavy right.

Result: Billam-Smith 10:9 (Billam-Smith 58:56)

Round 7

Riakporhe lands a sneaky right and both score with jabs. Billam-Smith uppercuts through Riakporhe’s guard and lands a right to the head. Billam-Smith lands a few body shots. Riakporhe loses his mouthguard.

Billam-Smith lands a good jab and Riakporhe misses with a right. Riakporhe just isn’t working hard enough and keeps trying to get into the clinch. Billam-Smith lands a left hook to the head. Riakporhe lands a bludgeoning right.

Result: 10-9 Billam Smith (Billam-Smith 68-65)

Round 8

Riakporhe becomes more lively, throwing jabs and following up with a right but soon holds again. Billam-Smith scores with two jabs and a right to the head. They stand there and exchange some hard head punches that both land, but then Riakporhe closes up and Billam-Smith scores to the body. Billam-Smith works inside but Riakporhe just holds. Billam-Smith hits two punches around Riakporhe’s guard.

Result: 10-9 Billam Smith (Billam-Smith 78-74)

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 15: Chris Billam-Smith punches Richard Riakporhe during the WBO cruiserweight world 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 seems like a different fighter when he jabs with emphasis and gets behind his jab, as he did early in this round. He landed a hard right to the head that rocked Billam-Smith, but then he landed low and Billam-Smith got some time to recover. Billam-Smith landed jabs and a right inside, but Riakporhe backed him into a corner and bombarded him with punches. Billam-Smith came out of the corner and landed jabs and rights to the body. Riakporhe landed a left hook to the head, but again just about held on.

Result: 10-9 Riakporhe (Billam-Smith 87-84)

Round 10

Billam-Smith broke through Riakporhe’s guard with jabs and Riakporhe connected with a powerful right. A series of jabs from Billam-Smith forced Riakporhe back but Riakporhe came back and struck hard but missed his target. Again Riakporhe just leaned in and held.

Result: 10-9 Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 97-93)

Round 11

Riakporhe was on the back foot, striking well and scoring to the body. Riakporhe received a stern warning for his head work. Riakporhe scored with a long right to the head and landed another after a clinch.

Result: 10-9 Riakporhe (Billam-Smith 106-103)

Round 12

Billam-Smith was busy firing jabs through Riakporhe’s guard. Riakporhe again did very little work, bracing himself and holding on. Billam-Smith continued to throw short punches, Riakporhe missed with overhand right punches. Riakporhe was cautioned for charging forward with his head, and when he did it again, the referee deducted a point* and cautioned Riakporhe again for holding a few seconds later.

Result: 10-8* Billam-Smith (Billam-Smith 116-111)

Official results: twice 115-112 and 116-111 for Billam-Smith.

analysis

Billam-Smith retains the WBO title, making up for a 2019 split decision loss to Riakporhe. When winning the title, he knocked down champion Lawrence Okolie three times and expressed hope for a unifying fight against WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez.

Riakporhe had won his last five fights by KO/TKO and this fight was considered even. However, Riakporhe was a disappointment, he just didn’t work hard enough and wasted too much energy holding. He can still be a force but he needs to put in a better effort than he did in this fight.