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Former WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith has his eye on a fight with Jai Opetaia after signing a multi-fight deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing promotional company.<\/b><\/p>\n
‘The Gentleman’, 35, has a record of 21 wins and two losses and held the British, Commonwealth and European cruiserweight titles before winning the WBO world title almost three years ago.<\/p>\n
Australian Opetaia signed with Zuffa in January of this year and is unbeaten in 30 fights, having previously held the IBF world title. <\/p>\n
Billam-Smith revealed this potential fight was a big reason in him making the promotional switch. <\/p>\n
“I’ve had an amazing career so far and I’m very grateful to be in the position that I am,” he told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
“I’ve won many belts but people haven’t seen me as number one in the division, and I know that I can get to that and be seen as that.<\/p>\n
“Jai Opetaia is seen as the number one and this all culminates in that fight for me, that was a huge thing for me – if I went through my career and never boxed Jai Opetaia then I would have felt that there was stuff left on the table.<\/p>\n
“I want to be the one to beat him, I don’t want to fight him when he’s been beat, I want to be that person, it was the same with Lawrence (Okolie) and it was the same with Richard Riakporhe.”<\/p>\n
Billam-Smith knocked down Okolie numerous times on the way to claiming victory on a memorable night<\/a> at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium in May 2023.<\/p>\n After winning the world belt in his home town, Billam-Smith defended it twice with victories over Mateusz Masternak<\/a> in Bournemouth and Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n