Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe Prediction: A Long-Anticipated Rematch
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Vladislav Tchakarov
Chris Billam-Smith will make his second defense of the WBO World Cruiserweight title against the undefeated Briton of Nigerian origin, Richard Riakpore. This is the go-to boxing fight this weekend and the champion is even considered the underdog. Here is our Billiam-Smith vs Riakporhe prediction.
Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe Prediction: Who Wins the Rematch?
These two fought each other years ago and produced an absolute classic. But the stakes ahead of their rematch are far greater.
Chris Billam-Smith Preview
Chris Billam-Smith is a British professional boxer born on July 22, 1991, in Epsom, England. He began his boxing career at a young age, training, and fighting as an amateur before making his professional debut in 2017.
Billam-Smith quickly made a name for himself in the boxing world, winning his first six fights by knockout. Since then, he has amassed an impressive record, with notable wins over opponents such as Tommy McCarthy, Lawrence Okolie, and Isaac Chamberlain.
Known for his aggressive fighting style and powerful striking, Billam-Smith has earned a reputation as a rising star in this weight class. He currently has a record of 19-1, with 13 wins coming by knockout. He is the number one-ranked cruiser in the UK and second in the world.
In his last three fights, Chris won over Armend Xhoxhaj (KO in the 5th round), a split decision over Lawrence Okolie, and in the last fight, Mateusz Masternak refused to continue the fight after eight rounds.
Chris Billiam-Smith has only one defeat in his career and it came against this exact opponent – Richard Riakporhe, in 2019. This makes it extremely hard to decide on a Billiam-Smith vs Riakporhe prediction.
Richard Riakporhe Preview
Richard Riakporhe is an undefeated British professional boxer born on July 3, 1990, in London, England. Unlike most pro boxers, he had a late start and only started boxing at the age of 19. He made his professional debut at 26 in 2016 and quickly achieved success with a series of impressive victories.
His current record is 17-0, with 13 wins coming by knockout. He has gained a reputation among fans and top promoters for his speed, strength, and cardio. His most notable wins include beating Sam Hyde, Tommy McCarthy, Deion Jumah, and of course, Chris Billam-Smith.
Richard Riakpore is ranked second in the UK and 4th in the global cruiserweight rankings. In recent times, Richard defeated Fabio Turchi in the 2nd round, Krzysztof Glowacki in the 4th, and Dylan Bregeon in the 2nd round.
Our Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe Prediction: Different Outcome This Time
The fighters are almost the same age and have similar anthropometric data. An important factor is that this will be a rematch, as mentioned above. In 2019, Riakporhe won by split decision and the fight was truly close. But this time, we expect a different outcome.
Chris has moved high up the rankings and his opposition in recent years has been much stronger and more serious. And he won the WBO cruiserweight title a year ago. Bookmakers still consider him the underdog ahead of this fight and we see this as a huge opportunity as our Billiam-Smith vs Riakporhe prediction will be in his favor.
We definitely do not expect a knockout in this fight. Regardless of who wins, we expect the outcome to be decided by the judges. So, an over bet is a good option here but we also like the odds for Billam-Smith's moneyline.
Vlad is a former amateur MMA fighter. After a series of injuries, he found a different way to connect with the sport and its fanbase - through writing. He's been covering everything-UFC for over 5 years on various platforms and has been part of the team at NYFights since early 2022.
