Five Years in the Making: Billam-Smith Avenges His Lone Career Defeat
Chris Billam-Smith successfully defended his WBO cruiserweight title and avenged his only career defeat by outpointing Richard Riakporhe over twelve rounds. The judges scored the fight 116-111, 115-112, and 115-112 in favor of Billam-Smith in the Sky Sports/Peacock+ main event at Selhurst Park in London.
Early Rounds: A Tactical Battle In the opening round, Riakporhe's effective jabs and right hands both upstairs and to the body gave him the early edge. Billam-Smith struggled to neutralize his opponent's best weapons, moving actively but landing fewer effective punches.
Mid-Rounds: Billam-Smith Finds His Rhythm The fight saw brief exchanges in round two, with both fighters landing right hands. As the bout progressed, it became less fluid, with frequent clinches reminiscent of their first encounter. Blood began to flow from Billam-Smith's nose in the fourth round due to Riakporhe's persistent jabs. Despite this, Billam-Smith landed a crucial right uppercut late in the round.
By the fifth round, Billam-Smith started to gain momentum, landing a left hand to Riakporhe’s chin and following up with a right hand. He maintained his aggression in the sixth, closing the round with effective right hands.
Second Half: Increased Aggression and Control The fight's intensity picked up in the seventh round, with both fighters exchanging punches. Billam-Smith's body shots and combinations began to take their toll. Riakporhe’s corner expressed concern about his performance, and despite their encouragement, Billam-Smith dominated the eighth round, landing multiple significant shots.
In the ninth round, Riakporhe was warned for a low blow and managed to land a momentum-shifting right hand. However, Billam-Smith's defensive skills allowed him to avoid significant damage. The tenth round saw both fighters receiving instructions to keep it clean, with Riakporhe continuing his late surge but still falling short in landing decisive blows.
Championship Rounds: Securing the Victory Billam-Smith regained control in the eleventh round, landing a right hand and tightening his defense. Riakporhe was warned for leading with his head, but Billam-Smith's combinations and jabs kept him in control. Riakporhe, aware that he needed a knockout to win, attempted a final rush in the twelfth round but was unable to land anything significant. A final headbutt from Riakporhe resulted in a point deduction, sealing his fate.
A Fitting Conclusion With this victory, Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) extended his winning streak to eleven since his 2019 defeat to Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KOs). He successfully defended his WBO cruiserweight title for the second time, continuing his reign as a dominant force in the division.