Chris Billam-Smith Defeats Richard Riakporhe to Retain WBO Cruiserweight Championship

Chris Billam-Smith successfully defended his WBO world cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Richard Riakporhe, avenging his 2019 defeat. The fight, held at Selhurst Park in London, was marked by Billam-Smith's disciplined approach and higher work rate, which neutralized Riakporhe's power punches. This win improves Billam-Smith's record to 20-1 and sets up potential unification bouts against champions like Gilberto Ramirez or Jai Opetaia. Despite the frequent clinches, Billam-Smith's cleaner shots and strategic execution impressed the judges. For Riakporhe, this was his first professional loss, but he remains a formidable contender in the division.