Consultants and pundits have their say forward of Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe’s conflict for the WBO cruiserweight world title at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium on Saturday.
Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe collide in one of many greatest all-British fights of the 12 months on Saturday with followers in a position to tune in to observe a bumper undercard from 6.30 pm dwell on Sky Sports activities or stream immediately with NOW.
Johnny Nelson (Former WBO cruiserweight champion):
“Richard Riakporhe stops Chris Billam-Smith inside the distance. The only thing we can doubt is, can he go to the well and dig deep when there’s nothing there?
“We have seen Chris Billam-Smith do it. We have not seen it from Richard Riakporhe, as a result of he is not needed to do it, and so if he has to dig deep, that is whenever you suppose: ‘oh my goodness.’ That is the place you favour Chris Billam-Smith. However I believe Richard Riakporhe, now’s the time he is bought to shine. Now’s the time [for] a career-best and a career-best ought to do the job.”
Barry Jones (Former world champion):
“I do make Billam-Smith the favorite. Simply from expertise, coping with the stress. I believe he’s a greater fighter than he was, as Riakporhe is.
“However the exercise and the not being afraid to be in vary of a shot. He is conscious that he has to take that educated threat. Eating out in your chin is a fear however he understands that he needs to be in that vary to land his personal pictures. I believe he is keen to decide to that.
“I just think he’s a smarter fighter overall than when they first met. Riakporhe, even though I think he’s neater than he was, ultimately it will boil down to how much he can land with that right hand and that left hook, and I just feel like Billam-Smith will be able to stunt that distance and have more success.”
Jack Massey (Has boxed each):
“It’s a tough one. It’s a very tough one. I’ve sort of been flitting between the two. I’m swaying towards Riakporhe. Just a bit more power, a bit stronger and just going off Billam-Smith’s last performance [against Mateusz Masternak], that’s what I’m going off.”
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Chris Billam-Smith says he’ll be prepared for no matter Richard Riakporhe brings on struggle night time and believes he’ll win by knockout.
Spencer Oliver (Former European champion):
“I think both guys have developed a lot since that first fight. They were at the beginning stages of their careers in that first fight.
“Chris Billam-Smith has had that 10-fight unbeaten run since that struggle again in 2019 and he is confirmed he is powerful. He goes to that place in a struggle the place it is not simple to show it round and he is proven that championship materials by displaying that high quality to have the ability to flip it round. We have not seen that of Richard Riakporhe but.
“Richard’s unbeaten and got himself into that mandatory position. His development’s been slightly different but what Richard’s gained from the first fight that he never had is the fact that he believes in himself. With Richard in that first fight, even though he won the fight, he never believed in himself. You could see that in his performance where he wouldn’t quite step in, was a little bit tense. He’s now at that stage where he does believe in himself.
“And that is why I lean in the direction of Riakporhe to win this contest.”
Duke McKenzie (Former three-weight world champion)
“It’s a good fight and that’s what the crowd are here to see and that’s what they’re going to see. It’s going to be explosive because they’ve already got history together.
“I might lean in the direction of Riakporhe just because I believe he’d be the extra improved of the 2. I do not suppose Billam-Smith can change. I believe as soon as he will get hit, Billam-Smith… for me, he is a bit bit too flat-footed, there’s not sufficient head motion and he would not depend on his boxing capacity, he needs to struggle.
“If he could change his game a little bit, he’d stand a better chance of winning. Smarts win fights and I just think Riakporhe is going to be a little bit too smart for him.”
Matt Christie (Main boxing journalist):
“This is an exceptionally difficult fight to call, much like the first time they met. Since then, both have unquestionably improved yet it is the level to which Billam-Smith has risen that makes his trajectory steeper.
“Consequently, given Billam-Smith’s superior expertise, each on the world stage and in 12-round championship fights, I lean in the direction of him edging out Riakporhe on factors.”
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Johnny Nelson questions who’ll come out on prime as Chris Billam-Smith prepares to defend his WBO World Cruiserweight Title in opposition to Richard Riakporhe on Saturday.
Ellie Scotney (IBF & WBO bantamweight world champion):
“When you compare the fighters who shared the ring all those years ago, when you compare their careers, the best fighter on Richard’s record is Chris by a country mile.
“You have a look at Chris, you look who he is boxed – Lawrence Okolie, who was the bogeyman of the division, nobody wished to the touch him however he hits very laborious. Chris has a technique to at all times discover a technique to win. I believe the depth and the tenacity, he’ll break Richard down the longer stretch, so I am backing a Billam-Smith stoppage win.
“We see the best of Chris when no one believes in him and his back is against the wall, and I think he’ll shut people up on Saturday.”
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Richard Riakporhe says he would not play thoughts video games and is worked up to get to work in opposition to Chris Billam-Smith.
Bradley Skeete (Former British champion)
“I’m going to go with Riakporhe. It’s all set up for him; Crystal Palace, his home town, I think he’ll come through with a late stoppage.
“I like Billam-Smith rather a lot, he is an awesome champion, I want him all the perfect, however I am going to go along with Riakporhe for this one. I believe Riakporhe shall be impressed by the house crowd. Chris is at all times in Bournemouth, the assist he will get there may be unbelievable, it could possibly be the identical for Richard.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith defend his WBO cruiserweight world title against Richard Riakporhe at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, live on Sky Sports on Saturday June 15; Ben Whittaker and Dan Azeez feature on the undercard. You can too stream the occasion by way of NOW TV.
