Chris Billam-Smith settled his rating with Richard Riakporhe, avenging his solely earlier skilled defeat and defending the WBO cruiserweight world title for a second time.
It was his second world title combat at a Premier League soccer stadium towards a British rival.
Now he has set his sights on a visit abroad and turning into a unified champion.
Gilberto Ramirez, the WBA cruiserweight titlist, is the opponent he desires subsequent and he is keen to go to the US to make that combat.
“I’d be really honoured. It would be crazy to make more memories out there,” Billam-Smith informed Sky Sports activities Information.
“I need to combat in America. Each Brit’s dream is clearly to combat of their house soccer staff’s stadium after which go to America. Ricky Hatton had it.
“‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is the WBA champion. I would love that belt, that’s the one George Groves won. I would love to fight him [Ramirez] out there, he fights out there so that makes it a possibility.”
Billam-Smith first gained the WBO world title in his Bournemouth hometown when he upset Lawrence Okolie on the Vitality stadium.
This weekend he travelled to Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium to tackle Riakporhe at his membership.
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Billam-Smith defended his WBO cruiserweight world title towards Riakporhe with a unanimous choice win at Selhurst Park
As soon as once more it was Billam-Smith who rose to the event. That prior expertise towards Okolie on the Vitality stadium helped him however so did: “Everything through my career. The experience and the tough fights, the bad performances, the good performances.
“The expertise I had being round George Groves, Luke Campbell, Josh Taylor. Barry McGuigan comes and watches most spars, if not all of them, while you’ve obtained that data round you and that have round you, you are continually studying and that is why the health club has a lot success as a result of we have got that conveyor belt of champions.”
Ultimately Billam-Smith took a clear unanimous decision over Riakporhe, nullifying his challenger’s fearsome punch-power over the course of a rough 12 rounds.
“The gameplan was excellent,” he said. “[Felt] actually comfy all through. Had a great deal of power left. The gameplan was do not waste power, do not try to drive the combat.
“He had a superb begin to the combat. He jabbed very well. I wasn’t shifting sufficient. He was jabbing very well, then I began to get my motion in.
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Have a look again at among the greatest stadium fights in British boxing historical past
“I respect Richard. I’ve got a lot of respect for the fans,” he added. “We’re all Palace fans this summer, they’ve got plenty of players in the England team.
“A large thanks to everybody who supported me. You’ve got given me goals again house and you have supported me away.”
For Billam-Smith his world title goals simply carry on getting greater. He is overwhelmed his greatest rivals in Britain, fought in a stadium twice over. Now he desires to overcome America, and he desires Gilberto Ramirez subsequent.
