Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe rematch official for June 15 in London

Chris Billam-Smith will be making the second defense of his WBO world title

Half a decade after first trading hands, WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith and domestic rival Richard Riakporhe will run it back on June 15th at London’s Selhurst Park.

The bout airs on Sky Sports in the UK and Peacock stateside.

Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KO) took home a split decision in their first meeting, but it was Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KO) who first graduated from the domestic scene with last year’s upset of Lawrence Okolie. Both saw action late last year, with Riakporhe smashing the overmatched Dylan Bregeon in November and Billam-Smith battling through a slow start to stop veteran Mateusz Masternak a month later.

Should be another solid tussle between these two and an opportunity for the winner to really stake his claim in the new cruiserweight landscape.

“I’m looking forward to giving the Bournemouth fans an away day to remember with an explosive performance, live on Sky Sports,” said Billam-Smith. “Richard is a good fighter, but I’ve improved hugely since we last met and he’s going to be in for a terrible night at Selhurst Park. The WBO belt is coming back with me to Bournemouth.”

“My time has come,” said Riakporhe. “The countdown is on. I’m the runaway ‘Midnight Train’ that you cannot stop and it’s the end of the line for Chris Billam-Smith. I can’t wait to knock Chris out and take his title. I’ve beaten him once and I’m ready to do it again. This time it’s not going to the judges. He’s going to be out cold on the canvas and the world title is going to be staying in south London.